In a remarkable turn of events, NBC’s leftist political commentator Chuck Todd openly acknowledged the validity of a strategy implemented by Republican-led states, specifically pointing out Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s (R) approach regarding the border crisis.
Reflecting on the ongoing border debacle, Todd, during an advance look into a “Meet the Press” segment, emphasized New York City’s growing challenges due to the continuous flood of migrants, which has stretched its shelter system to the brink. “I guess Greg Abbott was right,” he remarked candidly, referencing Abbott’s earlier prediction that if “blue cities” like NYC bore the brunt of the migrant influx, their liberal leaders would become sharply critical of the Biden administration’s approach to the border.
Taking matters into his own hands, Gov. Abbott had indeed provided buses for migrants to cities such as New York, Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Philadelphia. He argued that this tactic was designed to share the burden of the ongoing crisis, nudging Democratic leaders to face the harsh realities at the border.
Keep the busses moving to blue cities and states! Let them become the new border states and towns.https://t.co/dSCKWKXgCW
— Wes Erickson (@WesErickson007) August 11, 2023
The financial and logistical pressure on New York City, as Mayor Eric Adams (D) detailed, is palpable. With a staggering projection that the migrant influx might cost the city over $12 billion by 2025, and nearly 100,000 asylum seekers have arrived in the past year alone, Adams reiterated that the city had hit a crisis point. His cry for more assistance from state and federal governments underscores the severity of the situation.
Yet, New York City isn’t the lone entity sounding the alarm. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey (D) has declared a state of emergency in response to a sharp surge in migrants. Chicago, alongside the state of New York, too, has requested federal aid amid the current migrant wave.
Abbott’s approach, criticized by many Democrats as mere political theater, has garnered support within Republican circles, with Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) praising it as “one of the smartest moves made by a governor” recently. The strategy, although controversial, sought to highlight the significant problems faced at the southern border and force a response from Washington.
There’s a certain irony here. While several Democratic-led cities and states now grapple with the influx of migrants, they face the logistical challenges of accommodating them and the political tightrope of criticizing a Democratic White House. The vocal concerns of leaders like Mayor Adams and Governor Healey and Todd’s recent acknowledgment highlight a broadening rift in the Democratic ranks over the administration’s border policies.
