Authorities in New York City are overwhelmed as an estimated 10,000 immigrants are arriving there every month. So much so that Mayor Eric Adams said on Sunday that the influx might inflict a "fiscal tsunami" on the city.

Back in March 2020, the then Donald Trump administration had made use of emergency powers granted under Section 42 of the Public Health Services Act to expel a large number of undocumented immigrants at the US-Mexico border. The expulsion order was referred to as the "Title 42" order.

However, the "Title 42" order expired on May 11, angering Republican states. In August 2022, Republican Governor Greg Abbott of Texas arranged for long-distance buses to transport immigrants to New York, a state where the ruling Democratic Party is immigrant-friendly. Since then, over 130,000 immigrants who were originally in Texas have arrived in New York.

The two parties have different approaches to immigration. In June 2012, then president Barack Obama signed an executive order allowing young undocumented immigrants, who arrived in the United States before they had turned 16, had resided in the country for at least five years, and were currently aged between 15 and 31, to apply for temporary work and residency permits. Approximately 1.7 million undocumented immigrants met the criteria.

It marked the most significant immigration policy reform in the US in decades and Obama reaped significant political dividends. Naturally, Republicans criticized the Democrats for using immigration as a means to win elections. The shifting demographics of the US population seem to favor the Democratic Party, while forcing Republicans in the areas they control to adopt strict anti-immigration measures to protect their voter base.

The difference between the two parties on immigration is driven by political interests. With increasing political polarization in the US, there seems to be no clear solution to the immigration crisis. The urgency expressed by Mayor Adams must be considered in the context of approximately 7 million undocumented immigrants in the US. It remains a complex problem with no easy resolution in sight.

BEIJING NEWS