The influx of migrants had already shaken Democratic-controlled cities, including New York City and Chicago. Now, with the temperatures dropping, sanctuary cities are facing what Politico described as a "nightmare winter" and "potentially life-threatening situations."

Shelters are already full

The shelters are already packed in NYC, so the City took extraordinary steps to gain some relief. Politico's report claims that some were offered one-way plane tickets as far away as Morocco. In other instances, the City's officials "contemplated handing out tents to newly-arriving migrants so they can sleep in parks." The City's mayor, Eric Adams, repeatedly called for Biden's administration to help.

Illinois governor believes in the program

Governor JB Pritzker said, "The state that took my ancestors in fleeing from pogroms in Ukraine will not allow asylum seekers to freeze to death on our doorsteps." But, according to M3 Strategies Pollster Matt Podgorski, "A majority of Chicagoans prefer to end sanctuary city versus keep it."

Adams's administration is continuing to push for aid

Adams's spokesperson Kayla Mamelak Altus issued a statement saying, "As the temperature starts to drop, it is crucial — now more than ever — that the federal government finish the job they started." It continued, "We need meaningful financial help and a national decompression strategy. New York City cannot continue to manage a national crisis almost entirely on its own."

Massachusetts migrants might also face winter in the streets

Governor Maura Healey's administration created a limit for emergency shelters, citing security concerns. Andrea Park of the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, who works on housing advocacy, warned, "There is obviously a huge concern about the health and safety of people who are going to have no place to sleep and no place to turn." Park added, "We’re going to see some very desperate situations."

Millions entered the US in 2023

According to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) statistics, over 2.8 million migrants entered the US, compared to more than 2.7 million in 2022. Many Americans are frustrated, though some experts suggested this was a "new normal." Adam Isacson, director of defense oversight for Washington on Latin America (WOLA), a nonprofit advocacy organization, explained, "Parts of the world, especially Latin America, haven't recovered from the pandemic, and their economies have worsened, and some governments have been dictatorial as of late."