In a new development in the ongoing immigration crisis, suburban areas near Chicago and New York are pushing back against the arrival of migrants from the southern border. This backlash comes as Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott continues his efforts to pay for migrants to leave his state and buses making unscheduled drop-offs in big cities face fines and tickets.

One example of this pushback occurred in Edison, New Jersey, where Mayor Sam Joshi took to Facebook to announce that he had instructed law enforcement and emergency management departments to charter a bus to transport illegal migrants back to the southern Texas/Mexican border. Similarly, in Rockford, Illinois, authorities made it clear that the 355 migrants who arrived on a charter flight would not be staying.

The resistance to migrant arrivals has extended beyond local declarations. Signs along Interstate 55 in Grundy County, Illinois, southwest of Chicago, boldly proclaimed, "NO MIGRANT BUSES THIS EXIT," ahead of the Christmas weekend. Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley explained that these signs were part of an emergency effort to prevent people from being dropped off outside in the cold with no money, food, or winter clothes during the holiday weekend. While no buses have stopped in the county, the signs have since been removed.

The suburban backlash is a response to the increasing number of migrants arriving at the southern border, which Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection calls "unprecedented." In fact, illegal entries topped 10,000 several days last month. Big-city Democratic mayors, such as Eric Adams of New York and Brandon Johnson of Chicago, have been pleading with the Biden administration for help in addressing this influx. However, Abbott has taken matters into his own hands by busing over 80,000 migrants from Texas to Democratic-led cities since 2022.

Abbott's administration has also resorted to chartering planes as Chicago and New York have cracked down on buses. A recent flight carrying 355 migrants from San Antonio landed at Chicago Rockford International Airport on New Year's Eve. Local officials reported that none of the migrants left the airport before boarding buses chartered by Abbott to be dropped off in various suburbs. Another flight in December brought 120 migrants to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.

Notably, some Chicago suburbs have adopted or are considering regulations on buses. For example, Tinley Park's ordinance threatens to take action against buses that make unannounced stops in the town. Similarly, the village of Broadview, a suburb west of Chicago, expressed concerns about unloading passengers in severe weather without a coordinated plan, stating that it poses a significant threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the people aboard the buses.

In New Jersey, migrants are being dropped off at train stations in Jersey City, Secaucus, and Trenton, with the majority of them heading to New York. Democratic Governor Phil Murphy's office has acknowledged that the state is primarily being used as a transit point and is working with federal and local authorities, although further details were not provided. It is worth noting that Murphy had previously expressed concerns about New Jersey's capacity to support the arrivals, despite his initial stance as a self-styled progressive and advocate for immigrant-friendly policies.

While some migrants have moved on to New York from cities like Trenton, others have stayed with family in the area. Trenton Mayor Reed Gusciora emphasized the city's empathy for those seeking asylum but acknowledged the lack of capacity to accommodate them.

The mayors of New York and Chicago have placed blame on Abbott for the situation, with New York Mayor Eric Adams calling it a "diabolical plan." In response, Abbott has defended his tactics by stating that President Joe Biden needs to do more to secure the border, while his spokesperson Renae Eze criticized the Democratic mayors, accusing them of hypocrisy.

The ongoing issue of migrant arrivals and the subsequent resistance from suburban areas highlight the challenges faced by both local communities and the Biden administration in addressing this complex and multifaceted issue. As the situation continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how different stakeholders will respond and whether further measures will be taken to manage the influx of migrants.