New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy's administration reportedly considered setting aside $5 million in federal coronavirus aid for an “influx” of migrants from the southern border, but it was not implemented. There is.
The suggestions obtained are politiko A June application for the use of relief funds specified that the money would be used for “rapid response planning” after Trump-era Title 42 border restrictions are lifted.
The filing offered a glimpse into Murphy's plans if the immigration crisis escalated, with the hope that the cash would be used for food, shelter and the creation of an “immigration task force.”
Murphy said at an unrelated news conference Thursday that 26 buses carrying about 1,200 migrants from the southern border were sent to New Jersey train stations last week.
Nevertheless, Murphy's spokesperson Tyler Jones confirmed to the publication that “to date, no American Rescue Plan funds have been distributed for this purpose” and that the plan is Plans to resurface remain unclear.
The Democratic governor had previously claimed New Jersey would become a “sanctuary state” under his watch, but instead is sending recently arrived immigrants to the Garden State to New York City by train.
City council members accused Murphy of backing away from an immigration crisis that has spiraled out of control.
“Hypocrisy, your name is Murphy,” City Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) told the Post.
“Pardon the woke virtue signaling, Governor. At least some of us are willing to say we don't want to pay for this problem anymore.”
“It's nothing new for them to ship them to us,” said City Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens).
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“What's surprising is we don't ship them to Washington,” he added.
“I should say there's no room at all here. This faucet keeps opening and there's no sign that anyone is going to turn it off.”
The Title 42 policy, which began under the Trump administration and lasted until May 2023, allowed asylum seekers to be turned away at the southern border for public health reasons.
Such incidents occurred an estimated 2 million times while pandemic-era policies were in place.
The application, signed by the then-acting chief financial officer of the state Department of Human Services, said: “Immigrants at the border are expected to increase, and New Jersey is on the top list for migrant arrivals.” was.
“This plan was put in place in case a large number of immigrants arrive in New Jersey by bus or other means,” the filing states.
The funds will be used to help coordinate “large-scale shelter operations, including shelter, food, crisis counseling, and comprehensive social services for newly arrived individuals as needed.”
“If this plan is activated, funds will be utilized to support these activities,” the application states.
New Jersey's application also mentions an “immigration task force” formed by the governor's office, which has not been publicly acknowledged, according to Politico.
This amount is tiny compared to what other Democratic governments have spent on the immigration crisis.
New York City is expected to spend a total of $12 billion on immigration over three fiscal years, but federal aid is lacking, he said.
Asked by a reporter if he had a plan to deal with more immigrants, he simply said, “There is a plan. That means New York City has federal resources in place.” Ta.
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Kayla Mamelak, a spokeswoman for Mayor Eric Adams, said the administration “appreciates the support our federal partners have provided to date, but quite simply, it's not enough.”
“We need meaningful financial support, fast-track work pathways and a national resettlement strategy,” she said.
“New York City is leading the nation in responding to this national humanitarian crisis, providing compassion, care, shelter, and critical services to the more than 164,500 migrants who have been in our care since spring 2022. We have provided it.”
AP
The federal government has pledged a total of $150 million to New York City to help with the crisis, but about $40 million has been received.
More than 25,000 work permit, asylum, and TPS applications have been filed with the city, and only 3,000 are supported by the federal government.
The newspaper reached out to Murphy, who on Wednesday called a “manageable situation” with migrants arriving by bus from Texas, but did not immediately receive a response.
