New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s administration is reportedly considering a proposal to set aside $5 million in federal COVID-19 aid for the “flood” of immigrants traveling from the southern border but never followed through.
The proposal, obtained by Politico, was outlined in a June application to use relief funds and revealed that the money would go toward a “rapid response plan” after the Trump-era Title 42 border restrictions are lifted.
The application offers a glimpse of Murphy’s plan if the migrant crisis escalates: It aims to use the cash for food, shelter and the implementation of “immigrant task forces.”
Twenty-six buses carrying about 1,200 migrants from the southern border have been delivered to train stations in New Jersey in the past week, Murphy said Thursday at an unrelated news conference.
However, Murphy spokesman Tyler Jones confirmed to the publication that “to date, no American Rescue Plan funds have been allocated for this purpose” and that plans for it to reappear remain unclear.
The Democratic governor, who had previously insisted that New Jersey would be a “sanctuary state” under his watch, has instead sent immigrants recently arriving in the Garden State on trains to New York City.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s administration reportedly considered a proposal to set aside $5 million in federal COVID-19 aid for the “flood” of immigrants but never followed through. Vanessa Carvalho/Shutterstock
City lawmakers blasted Murphy for washing his hands of the out-of-control immigrant mess.
“Hypocrisy, your name is Murphy,” council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) told the Post.
“Give us a wake-up call, Governor. At least some of us are willing to say that we don’t want to pay for this problem anymore.”
Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) said “it’s not new that they’re sending it to us.”
The application gives an idea of Murphy’s plans if the migrant crisis escalates and aims to use the cash for emergencies. Christopher Sadowski Migrants from the southern border were delivered to the Trenton Transportation Center in Trenton, NJ, on January 3, 2024. Christopher Sadowski
“What’s surprising is that we didn’t send it to Washington,” he added.
“We should say there is no room here at all. This faucet is always open and there is no sense that anyone is trying to stop it.”
Title 42 policy, which began under the Trump administration and continues until May 2023, allows asylum seekers to be turned away at the southern border on public health grounds.
Although pandemic-era policies are implemented, they occur approximately 2 million times.
The application, signed by the acting chief financial officer of the state Department of Human Services at the time, said that “border arrivals are expected to increase and NJ is at the top of the state list for migrant arrivals.”
“This plan is in place should NJ receive an influx of immigrants by bus or other means,” the application states.
The funds will be used to help coordinate “massive shelter activities including shelter, food, crisis counseling and necessary social services for newly arrived individuals.”
“Funds will be used to support these activities if this plan is activated,” the application said.
New Jersey’s application also mentions a “migrant task force” put together by the governor’s office, though this has not been publicly acknowledged, according to Politico.
The amount is a pittance compared to what other Democratic-controlled governments have spent on the immigration crisis.
New York City is expected to spend a total of $12 billion on immigrants over three fiscal years, but says federal aid has fallen short.
When asked by a reporter if he had a plan to deal with more immigrants, Murphy simply stated: “There is a plan in place, and that is that New York has federal resources.”
The Democratic governor has sent recently arrived immigrants to the Garden State on a train to New York City, according to reports. Christopher Sadowski Migrants crossing the Rio Grande River from Mexico into the United States surrender to US Customs and Border Protection officials before they are transported to an immigration facility. James Keivom
Mayor Eric Adams spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said that while the administration is “grateful for the assistance our federal partners have provided thus far, simply put, it is not enough.”
“We need meaningful financial assistance, an accelerated work path, and a national resettlement strategy,” he said.
“New York City has led the nation in responding to this nation’s humanitarian crisis, providing compassion, care, shelter and essential services to more than 164,500 immigrants who have passed through our care since spring 2022.”
Murphy said Thursday that 26 buses carrying about 1,200 migrants from the southern border had been delivered to train stations in New Jersey in the past week. AP
Although the federal government has given a total of $150 million to New York City to help with this crisis, about $40 million has been received.
More than 25,000 work permit, asylum and TPS applications were submitted to the city with the federal government assisting with only 3,000 applications.
The Post reached out to Murphy — who on Wednesday called the arrival of migrants by bus from Texas a “manageable situation” — but did not get an immediate response.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
