Democrat Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, stated that illegal immigrants are overrunning the state after he approved funding for various social programs for them.
In an interview with ABC News, Newsom predicted that the migrant crisis would worsen following the repeal of Title 42, a Trump-era policy that required asylum seekers to remain in Mexico rather than enter the United States.
The governor stated, “The current system is not working, and it’s about to fail in a post-1942 world unless we take responsibility and ownership.”
“And I say that as a Democrat, not to point fingers, I say that as a father, I say that as someone who feels responsible for being a part of the solution, and I’m doing my best,” he added.
Newsom continued by stating that the government must do more to address the migrant crisis, noting that nine border shelters were already at capacity. He asserted that the federal government is sending migrants to California due to the state’s humane treatment of migrants.
“The more we do, the greater the burden placed on us,” he added.
Newsom continued, “We cannot continue to fund all of these sites due to the budgetary pressures on this state and the offsetting issues I must address.” People will end up living on the streets if we don’t continue doing what we’re doing.
In August, when he signed a law expanding health care benefits to include more illegal immigrants, the liberal governor sang a very different tune.
He has also advocated for all illegal immigrants in the state to be eligible for universal health care.
“Here in the largest state in our union, California, we are positioned with this budget to be able to deliver on what we’ve been advocating: universal health care for all, regardless of a pre-existing condition, regardless of ability to pay, and regardless of immigration status,” Newsom said in January.
In September, he authorized illegal immigrants to obtain state identification.
In 2020, Newsom partnered with immigrant groups to raise over $125 million for an illegal immigrant coronavirus relief fund.
Immigrants’ rights groups and others on the left called the “Remain in Mexico” policy racist and xenophobic. Still, Newsom’s warning mirrored that of former President Donald Trump and those on the right. President Joe Biden initially joined the chorus of critics of the policy before employing it to address the escalating border crisis.
In November, a judge invalidated the policy, prompting Border Patrol agents to anticipate a resurgence of illegal immigrants crossing the U.S. border to take advantage of asylum laws.
