The mass migration crisis at the nation's southern border is placing immense pressure on public schools, sparking unnecessary crime waves and straining cities across the United States, a fellow from an anti-immigration think tank told lawmakers in Washington last week.
Todd Bensman, senior national security fellow at the Center for Immigration Studies, provided his remarks during a hearing July 26 before the Border Security and Enforcement Subcommittee & Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence Subcommittee.
His isn't a lone voice, Bensman told subcommittee members.
"As the Biden border crisis grinds on and on, expect the silent majority of cities and towns across America to add their voices of pain and protest to the lengthening list," he said at the conclusion of his comments. "They will do so because their leaders have correctly assessed that this massive new population of needy foreigners will burden and transform their communities without their say-so."
Bensman's comments were entitled "The Real Cost of an Open Border: How Americans are Paying the Price."
Bensman, who has more than 17 years experience in border issues, painted a grim picture of the situation along the U.S.-Mexico border, attributing the crisis to specific policies put into effect on President Joe Biden's Inauguration Day.
The Biden administration's decision to freeze required border enforcement measures and fast-track the release of illegal crossers into the country has led to an unprecedented surge of immigrants, according to the analysis that Bensman provided lawmakers. As a result, millions of individuals have entered the United States illegally over a 30-month span, with potentially up to six million immigrants expected before the Biden administration's policies can possibly be reversed after the 2024 national elections.
Consequences of this mass migration are already becoming evident in several areas of American life, Bensman said. The first noticeable impact is felt in public school systems, where districts struggle to accommodate the sudden influx of immigrant children. Realizing that young children can serve as a ticket into the country due to legal loopholes, families have brought school-aged children in for quick-release treatments. This has resulted in overcrowded classrooms, resource shortages, and increased burdens on school infrastructure.
Bensman cited examples, such as in greater New York City, where a significant surge of 5,000 immigrant children flooded into four counties within an eleven-month period, posing a $139 million unplanned burden on taxpayers to educate them. Other school districts are experiencing similar challenges, with the need for bond elections to build new schools and hire more teachers.
Apart from the burden on the nation's education system, Bensman warned of an impending crime wave resulting from the uncontrolled flow of illegal immigrants. He criticized studies that compare illegal immigrant criminality to that of American citizens, arguing that such comparisons are misleading. Unlike American citizens, illegal immigrants are subject to deportation, meaning every crime they commit is avoidable. Bensman points to data out of Texas that shows hundreds of preventable crimes committed by illegal immigrants, including homicides, sexual assaults and drug trafficking.
The impacts of the crisis are not limited to border states, Bensman said. Cities and towns across America are struggling to cope with the influx of immigrants. With no federal support, these communities face unfunded burdens, requiring resources to shelter, feed and provide medical treatment to immigrants.
