New Jersey considered allocating $5 million for ‘influx’ of immigrants, but never followed through: report

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration reportedly considered a proposal to set aside $5 million in federal COVID-19 aid for an “influx” of migrants traveling from the southern border, but never followed through.

The proposal obtained by Politico was presented in a June request to use relief funds and revealed that the money would go toward a “rapid response plan” after the Trump-era Title 42 border restriction was lifted.

The request gave insight into Murphy’s plan should the migrant crisis escalate: He intended to use the cash for food, lodging and the implementation of a “migrant task force.”

Last week, twenty-six buses carrying about 1,200 migrants from the southern border were sent to train stations in New Jersey, Murphy said Thursday at an unrelated news conference.

Despite this, Murphy spokesperson Tyler Jones confirmed to the publication that “to date, no American Rescue Plan funds have been distributed for this purpose” and plans for its resurgence remain unclear.

The Democratic governor, who previously insisted that New Jersey would be a “sanctuary state” under his leadership, has instead been sending immigrants who have recently arrived to the Garden State on trains to New York City.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration reportedly considered a proposal to set aside $5 million in federal COVID-19 aid for an “influx” of migrants, but never carried it out. Vanessa Carvalho/Shutterstock

City lawmakers criticized Murphy for washing his hands of the out-of-control immigration chaos.

“Hypocrisy, your name is Murphy,” council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) told the Post.

“Spare us the woke virtue signaling, Governor. “At least some of us are willing to say that we no longer want to pay for this problem.”

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Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens) said it’s “nothing new for them to be sent to us.”

The request gave insight into Murphy’s plan in case the migrant crisis escalated and aimed to use the cash for emergencies. Christopher Sadowski Migrants from the southern border are dropped off at the Trenton Transportation Center in Trenton, New Jersey, on January 3, 2024. Christopher Sadowski

“The surprising thing is that we didn’t send them to Washington,” he added.

“We should say that there is no place here. “This tap is continually running and there is no sense that anyone is working to stop it.”

The Title 42 policy, which began under the Trump administration and continued until May 2023, allowed asylum seekers to be turned away at the southern border on public health grounds.

While the pandemic-era policy was in place, that happened about 2 million times.

The request, 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 New Jersey is on the top list of states for migrant arrivals.”

“This plan has been implemented in the event that New Jersey receives an influx of immigrants arriving by bus or other means,” the request said.

The funds would be used to help coordinate “mass shelter activities including housing, food, crisis counseling, and, as needed, comprehensive social services for newcomers.”

“Funds will be used to support these activities in the event this plan is activated,” the application said.

New Jersey’s request also mentions an “immigrant task force” created by the governor’s office, although this has not been publicly acknowledged, according to Politico.

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The amount of money 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 the course of three fiscal years, but said federal assistance has not been enough.

When asked by a reporter if he had a plan to deal with more immigrants, Murphy simply said: “There is a plan in place, and that is that New York City has the federal resources available.”

The Democratic governor has reportedly been sending immigrants who have recently arrived to the Garden State on trains to New York City. Christopher Sadowski Migrants who crossed the Rio Grande from Mexico into the United States surrendered to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials before being transported to a migrant facility. James Keivom

Mayor Eric Adams’ spokeswoman Kayla Mamelak said that while the administration is “grateful for the help our federal partners have provided so far, simply put, it’s not enough.”

“We need significant financial assistance, accelerated pathways and a national resettlement strategy,” he said.

“New York City has led the nation in responding to this national humanitarian crisis, providing compassion, care, shelter and vital services to more than 164,500 migrants who have passed through our care since spring 2022.”

Murphy said Thursday that 26 buses carrying about 1,200 migrants from the southern border were sent to train stations in New Jersey last week. AP

While the federal government has committed a total of $150 million to New York City to assist with this crisis, approximately $40 million has been received.

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More than 25,000 applications for work authorization, asylum and TPS have been submitted to the city and the federal government has assisted with just 3,000 applications.

The Post contacted 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: vtt.edu.vn

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