White House seeks federal places to house migrants amid pressure from cities

(CNN) — The White House is trying to identify federal places to offer cities as President Joe Biden comes under increasing pressure to provide aid to places overwhelmed by the influx of migrants.

The governor of Texas, Republican Greg Abbott, has unorganized and sent thousands of migrants to Democratic-led cities across the country, fueling the frustration of thousands of Democratic mayors and governors in opposition to the president’s immigration policies. Southern border of the country.

It has brought a powerful political issue to the fore and infuriated the president’s allies ahead of a heated election year.

Behind the scenes, however, Biden administration officials are examining what federal sites can help cities, including Denver, Chicago and New York, help migrants amid growing concerns about overcrowded shelters and tight budgets, according to a senior White House official. can

Senior White House officials, including Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Tom Perez, have had daily conversations with the cities.

“The conversation is the same. “We’re scanning the federal landscape to identify potential sites that could be used for housing,” a White House official said, citing some of the obstacles that, for example, include limited federal property in Chicago.

Officials have also communicated with the archdiocese to identify closed schools and churches.

“We’re trying to be as creative as possible. The housing issue is the same everywhere,” the White House official added. “We were identifying military bases that might have capacity, but again, every city has unique challenges.”

In a statement, the city of Denver called the effort “helpful.”

“While we have not yet moved forward with a site, it is always helpful to work directly with the government to identify potential solutions to this crisis,” Jordan Fuja, press secretary for Denver Mayor Mike Johnston, said in an email.

The federal government has identified two federal sites in New York that are managed by the city and could relocate. But New York City Mayor Eric Adams this week called for more help.

“It’s also crucial, and I have to say this is a national problem, and all these cities need the help of the national government: a decompression strategy, funding, make sure we allow people to work and pursue the American dream.” He told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer this Wednesday. “We still need a national government to solve this national crisis.”

CNN reached out to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office.

The Biden administration has deployed Homeland Security officials to work with city officials and set up clinics to help eligible immigrants apply for work permits, a typically lengthy and difficult process.

According to the White House, the clinics have helped more than 10,000 people apply for work permits. Last year, the administration also announced an expansion of a form of humanitarian aid to make more Venezuelans already in the United States eligible for work permits, and to appease calls from New York City officials.

“We share the frustration of mayors, governors and communities with extremist Republicans like Governor Abbott, who try to use immigration as a political pawn and are not interested in finding solutions,” Perez said in a statement.

White House officials have repeatedly asked Congress to approve their supplemental request that includes billions of dollars for border security that would bring more resources to cities.

Biden stressed on Tuesday that he needs more funding to deal with the border crisis. “We have to do something. “They should give me the money I need to secure the border,” he said when a reporter asked him what he would do with the country’s southern border.

The White House’s supplemental national security request, which is stuck in Congress over border negotiations, includes an additional $1.4 billion for local jurisdictions.

The administration has already provided more than $1 billion in grants to jurisdictions receiving immigrants.