The Growing Ripple Effects Of The Border Crisis

The latest chapter in the migrant crisis at the Southern border is creating ripple effects in some parts of the country. Depending on how they are addressed, those ripples could become waves.

“Local officials in border cities have also warned of a wave of migrants flooding the border, with Laredo, Texas, Mayor Victor Trevino warning that the border city has been prepping for a hurricane coming,” and Brownsville, Texas, Mayor Trey Mendez saying the city has earmarked nearly $6 million to process migrants at the border,” Forbes reported.

As be the case with many crises, it is too early to measure or predict the full extent of the situation's impact at the border. And although an expected spike in border crossing after Title 42 ended did not become a reality, the impact of migrants that continue to arrive at cities across the county appears to be escalating.

Chicago

“As asylum seekers race to the U.S. border, that could mean more migrants coming to Chicago. The issue is, Mayor Lori Lightfoot says, we are out of space,” according to ABC7 News in the Windy City.

Washington, DC

In Washington, D.C., “an increasing number of migrants could exacerbate an already difficult situation for organizations still trying to arrange housing and services for those bused to the city last year, said Diana Fula from the Congregation Action Network. Ms. Fula said hotels that have been provided for temporary shelter are full,” the New York Times reported.

“We will end up seeing migrants sleeping in tents or next to cars because this is how the government is treating migrants who don’t have any other option; this will soon be our reality in the city,” she told the newspaper in a phone interview.

New York

New York Mayor Eric Adams said “he would consider housing migrants in a closed Hudson Valley prison during a call with county officials Thursday as New York City struggles to find accommodations for thousands more asylum-seekers expected to arrive following the expiration of a federal border policy,” according to Politico.

The situation is so dire that Adams said he didn’t rule out the suggestion that he some migrants be housed at a State University New York campus and at a closed correctional facility in Duchess County.

Impact On Businesses

Some companies, such as those in the landscaping industry, could feel the impact of the border crisis sooner than others.

“An analysis of U.S. Census data by New American Economy found that nationally immigrants make up close to one in three workers in the landscaping services industry.

“ In some states, such as California, the figure is far higher, reaching 63.2 percent,” according to a 2017 article on New American Economy.

“The worsening crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border is having a negative impact on many businesses, especially in the landscaping industry,” Bryan Clayton, CEO and founder of GreenPal, a platform that connects homeowners with lawn care professionals, said via email.

“Many landscape companies depend on immigrant labor, both legal and illegal, to meet the high demand for their services. With the expiration of Title 42 and the surge of migrants at the border, many landscape workers are facing deportation, detention, or exploitation,” he observed.

“This creates a huge problem for both the workers and the employers. The workers lose their livelihoods and face harsh conditions at the border. The employers lose their workforce and struggle to find reliable and affordable replacements. This affects the quality and availability of landscaping services for customers across the country,” Clayton said.

Proposals

Legislation

On Thursday, the House passed the Secure the Border Act of 2023, which would require that the federal government hire enough Border Patrol agents to maintain a staff of 22,000 and develop a plan to upgrade existing technology to make sure agents are well-equipped. “It also would require the homeland security secretary to resume construction of the border wall, a centerpiece of former President Donald Trump’s administration,” according to NBC News.

“The bill is unlikely to become law. Democrats, who oppose it, hold a slim majority in the Senate, and the White House issued a veto threat this week,” the news organization reported.

Guest Worker Program Proposal

As others have proposed, “One possible solution is to create a guest worker program that allows seasonal workers to enter and exit the country legally and safely,” Clayton noted.

“This would benefit both the workers and the employers, as well as reduce the pressure on the border. Another possible solution is to provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers who have been working in the U.S. for a long time and have no criminal record. This would recognize their contributions and give them a chance to become part of our community,” he concluded.

Next Steps

With no end in sight to the border crisis, companies and organizations should carefully consider what effect the situation could have on their operations. They should update their crisis management plans accordingly and ensure they have access to the resources they’d need to respond in a strategic, effective, and efficient manner if a worst-case border-related crisis becomes a reality.