The migrant crisis needs real solution

We all make mistakes but we try not to make the same mistakes twice. Government is mishandling the migrant crisis and seriously under estimating the severity, duration, difficulty and cost.

It is frighteningly reminiscent of the mishandling of the homeless families crisis in the early 1980s. At the time it was a relatively new phenomenon. There had always been some number of homeless individuals, usually men, but homeless families (primarily young women and children) were increasing dramatically.

Mayor Ed Koch, and other big city mayors, faced this apparently novel development. Their assumption — and that of many — was that it was a short-term problem and the need would be satisfied with hotels, motels, and temporary shelters. The unspoken theory was that somehow the homeless families would find a place to go. They didn’t.

Koch literally created an industry of “welfare hotels.” Substandard facilities, ill-equipped to handle families for long periods of time. Some became notorious such as the hotel Martinique, which became a national symbol of a failed urban policy. Meanwhile Koch was paying $36,000 per year for a hotel room. That amount of money could easily have financed construction of permanent affordable housing.

The migrant crisis today follows the same pattern. There is a false assumption that this is a short-term issue. It is not. Cities and states are paying for hotels and motels. They are exploring school gymnasiums, jails, college dorms, upstate motels and other makeshift solutions. These approaches seriously misdiagnose the problem.

There is nothing short-term about this situation. The asylum seekers will be here legally, pending an asylum hearing. Given the volume and backlog (a record-breaking 1.6 million cases) experts estimate it will take up to two years to conduct the asylum hearings. And that number will probably increase. These short -term plans and accommodations will likely become the next generation of “welfare hotels.” We also must recognize the cost of feeding, clothing, educating and providing health care.

We effectively have 2 million new residents in this country. That is a massive undertaking.

Not only is government misguided in assessing the scope of the problem, but we have compounded the problem by placing the massive burden on our nation’s cities, which are the least capable of managing the problem. We are already in the midst of an urban crisis with crime, homelessness, mental health issues, high taxation and commercial vacancies increased by post-COVID remote work options. Cities are already being depopulated. To add this critical responsibility can literally be the straw that breaks the cities’ backs. And there is no constitutional or rational basis for municipal jurisdiction. Mayors like Eric Adams in New York, have been put in an impossible situation.

Many states have abrogated their responsibility fearful of the negative NIMBY politics. This has created a major problem as local counties are now passing emergency orders prohibiting hotels from accepting migrants from cities. This violates state constitutional authority but the state must act. The state must manage the population fairly and proportionately across the state. Smaller communities upstate could actually benefit from the migrants’ economic activity.

What’s worse is there is no plan or leadership. That must change immediately. The federal government is primarily responsible. They should find locations for the short term suitable accommodations from their own assets and in coordination with the states.

The federal government must also fund state and local governments to immediately construct additional affordable housing units. The backlog demand for affordable housing stretches years. Public house authorities must modernize and professionalize. They have available land and an existing federal funding program. Section 8 and tax credit programs can spur the private market. Creating more affordable housing will release pressure and create more vacancies. This effort can also allow us to creatively convert vacant commercial space in urban areas into residential units: a major problem that must be addressed in any event.

Another priority is to accelerate the migrant population’s constructive entrance into the workforce. Months of delay will cost billions. Business leaders should be brought to the table to find immediate employment opportunities, and nonprofit organizations should help migrants with the transition.

The silver lining is this might be an opportunity for this nation to organize and mobilize and welcome a population of new Americans eager to work at the minimum wage jobs the economy vitally requires. Of course this assumes competent government and real leadership, but if not now, when?

Forty years after the homeless family crisis began, we still have families in short-term hotels and motels. Those that don’t learn from the past are destined to repeat it.