The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
NEW DESTINATIONS FOR THE FLOOD OF MIGRANTS
Officials in South Florida say they are preparing for an influx of immigrants being sent by the federal government as the number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border grows rapidly.
What happened
Broward County Mayor Mark Bogen said Thursday officials in his community and neighboring Palm Beach County were alerted by the federal government that more than a 100 immigrants would be sent weekly to each of the two counties by plane starting in about two weeks.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw said he was notified of the plans by the Miamibased office of the U.S. Border Patrol, and that a total of 1,000 people per month would be brought to the two counties from the El Paso, Texas, area. He said immigrant parents and children would be processed in both Florida counties, given a notice to appear in court and then released into the community.
Why it matters
The federal government has run out of space to process the thousands of immigrants who have been arriving at the border, forcing them to fly migrants to Border Patrol facilities in other locations that have room.
The migrants are typically processed, released and given a court date in a city where they plan to reside, often with family members. Once the immigrants are released, nonprofit organizations in other cities have been stepping in to provide meals and bus tickets to their destinations.
U.S. authorities have already been using buses and planes to move migrants to spots on and away from the border, including Phoenix; Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Antonio; and Colorado. Though the Justice Department has in the past listed Broward and Palm Beach as sanctuary jurisdictions — both are Democratic strongholds — officials in both counties say they are complying with federal immigration enforcement requests.
Florida reaction
Despite the practice being widespread amid the recent surge of immigrants, Florida leaders from both parties, including Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, reacted with alarm at the development. Bogen warned the influx would strain the county’s social services and be harmful for immigrants stranded without money, housing or knowledge of the city. He said officials are reaching out to nonprofits and businesses to find resources and other support.
Democratic Florida U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch said he was unable to get federal officials to clarify the Florida plans. He urged the Customs and Border Protection agency to brief Congress on the situation and what help the federal government would provide.
GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, after saying he’d been briefed by the Palm Beach County sheriff, wrote a letter to Kevin McAleenan, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, urging him not to transport undocumented migrants to Florida before clarifying arrangements and conferring with local officials on their needs to receive the influx.
What’s next
Administrators in Broward and Palm Beach planned a strategy session. Palm Beach County Mayor Mack Bernard said he would reach out to Gov. DeSantis, saying the burden on his county would be “humongous.”