OPINION:
“Yesterday my eldest son’s soccer team could not play one of their scheduled games because migrants refused to leave the field the league had permits for, even after the cops came and told them they needed to leave,” Maud Maron, a self-described liberal, posted on X this week.
“Finally, the ref said it was too late to start the game and left. Two teams of high school boys, in uniform, with their coaches present and a valid permit, could not play a soccer match in NYC because our city has become lawless,” she continued. “Not the biggest issue or problem, but so ugly and so diminishing to the quality of life.”
Also this week in New York, hundreds of illegals showed up at City Hall, demanding better treatment, work permits and shelter from lawmakers. Some were waving signs reading “New Yorkers for immigrant justice.” This is as Democratic Mayor Eric Adams reserved $53 million in taxpayer funds to offer illegal migrants prepaid debit cards.
The mayor said that debit cards should be used for food and other necessities. He said the move would actually save New Yorkers money, as in a single day last November, 5,000 city-provided meals were left uneaten and discarded by migrants, whom the city has also pledged to feed and provide housing.
The New York Times estimates 180,000 illegal migrants have flooded the city in the last two years, with 60,000 of them residing in city shelters.
Heading west to Denver, Democratic Mayor Mike Johnston announced last week a $45.9 million taxpayer package to fund programs for the “newcomers” this year, on top of the $44 million in spending already secured and reserved for illegal migrants. The move was made viable in the city budget after cutting more than $8 million for Denver’s police department and a $2.5 million haircut for the city’s fire department.
This is as the Denver Police Department has finally gotten a handle on a violent crime surge, although its crime rate still has not returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Denver’s new “Asylum Seekers Program” will provide illegal aliens with housing assistance for six months and work training opportunities, including language instruction. City spending on illegal immigrants skyrocketed to $15 million a month in December from $2 million a month in August.
Meanwhile, Denver’s hospital system warned the City Council that it’s on the brink of collapse because of unexpected costs associated with the massive influx of migrants. Last year, the hospital closed 15 beds, reduced employee wages and postponed renovations after losing $2 million.
“Because our costs exceed our revenues, we are turning down patients every day, particularly in the area of mental health and substance abuse,” Denver Health CEO Donna Lynne told the council, according to the Denver Post.
Eight thousand migrants from Central America accounted for about 20,000 visits to the hospital system in 2023. The state and federal governments aren’t reimbursing the hospital for the free health care, on which it spent $136 million.
As Californians flee the Golden State because of the high cost of living and crime, illegal aliens are being rolled out the red carpet. In January, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom said California would begin providing health care coverage to migrants as part of its Medi-Cal system, California’s version of Medicaid. The coverage includes eligibility for hormone and sex-change surgeries paid for by taxpayer dollars.
This is in addition to illegal immigrants being eligible for in-state tuition and financial aid for state schools, California’s federally funded food assistance program, and its Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, which provides monthly cash benefits to illegals.
It’s abundantly evident that blue states and mayors are placing the needs and want of illegal aliens above those of their own residents. At what point will Democratic voters recognize this and demand an end to President Biden’s illegal invasion? At what point will they demand an end to sanctuary cities? At what point will they see that all of this virtue signaling is actually making their cities less safe and less affordable?
The answer to these questions will hopefully be resolved in November. The only way to be rid of Mr. Biden’s open border lunacy and the negative impact it is having on local municipalities and states is to reelect Donald Trump — even if you are a Democrat.
• Kelly Sadler is the commentary editor at The Washington Times.
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