Migrants are overwhelming deep blue cities such as New York and Chicago, so what did the Biden administration do in response? It just granted temporary legal status to some 472,000 Venezuelans who crossed illegally. That number adds to the 242,000 who have already qualified for such status. Not only that, but those who already have temporary status can apply for an 18-month extension.

The Homeland Security Department announced this move in the media on Wednesday evening, perhaps hoping that Americans fed up with the border chaos wouldn’t notice.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said the extension resulted from “Venezuela’s increased instability and lack of safety due to the enduring humanitarian, security, political, and environmental conditions.”

So why now?

Well, it appears that Democratic leaders have been pressuring Biden to give more aid to the migrants. Plus, Democrat mayors and governors are not happy with migrants landing on their doorsteps, so they’re hoping this will allow more work authorizations.

However, Border Patrol agents argue that this new Temporary Protection Status will just make things worse. Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, who does a yeoman’s work reporting from the Texas border, tweeted:

I’m also hearing from Border Patrol agents who are groaning about this news, saying it will just make the problem worse and attract more Venezuelans to the border who will hope for a new TPS redesignation next year.

Of course it will.

Did Biden Miss Wednesday’s Border Chaos?

On Wednesday morning, thousands of Venezuelan migrants — mostly men, not families — crossed into Texas at Eagle Pass. Melugin reported:

It’s a total free for all in Eagle Pass right now. Mass illegal crossing taking place for over an hour and a half. Almost 2 years to the day we saw 15,000+ Haitians under the bridge in Del Rio, we now have thousands of predominantly Venezuelans gathering under Eagle Pass bridge.

It’s a total free for all in Eagle Pass right now. Mass illegal crossing taking place for over an hour and a half. Almost 2 years to the day we saw 15,000+ Haitians under the bridge in Del Rio, we now have thousands of predominantly Venezuelans gathering under Eagle Pass bridge. pic.twitter.com/VkfUQnexGZ

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 20, 2023

Later, Melugin reported that because of massive numbers of migrants, Customs and Border Patrol temporarily closed two bridges.

CBP releases statement after mass illegal crossing of thousands into Eagle Pass, TX today. Two bridges will be temporarily shut down to redirect resources to help w/ surge. CBP promises to “maximize consequences” against those who don’t have a legal basis to be in the U.S.

NEW: CBP releases statement after mass illegal crossing of thousands into Eagle Pass, TX today. Two bridges will be temporarily shut down to redirect resources to help w/ surge. CBP promises to “maximize consequences” against those who don’t have a legal basis to be in the U.S. pic.twitter.com/yskzuj5KYZ

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) September 20, 2023

Even Elon Musk took notice of the havoc — as well as the silence from legacy media — tweeting:

Strange that there is almost no legacy media coverage of this. About 2 million people – from every country on Earth – are entering through the US southern border every year. The number is rising rapidly, yet no preventive action is taken by the current administration.

But while Elon gets it, the Biden administration made life more difficult for the CBP. They ordered that the razor wire that Texas had installed at Eagle Pass to prevent illegal crossings be cut. However, TX Gov. Greg Abbott told the administration to pound sand — he ordered the Texas National Guard to install more razor wire:

Texas installed razor wire in Eagle Pass to stop illegal crossings. Today the Biden Admin CUT that wire, opening the floodgates to illegal immigrants. I immediately deployed more Texas National Guard to repel illegal crossings & install more razor wire.

Texas installed razor wire in Eagle Pass to stop illegal crossings.

Today the Biden Admin CUT that wire, opening the floodgates to illegal immigrants.

I immediately deployed more Texas National Guard to repel illegal crossings & install more razor wire. pic.twitter.com/eMtLS8Z6WI

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) September 20, 2023

Plus, on Wednesday evening Eagle Pass Mayor Rolando Salinas authorized the arrests of illegal persons in the city park. That was in addition to the declaration of emergency he issued the day before.

Screenshot: @LtChrisOlivarez/X.

Salinas also told the New York Times in an interview that “They are walking around the streets. The hospital is getting swamped also.” The scene, he added, was similar to what happened in 2021 when illegals flooded his town.

Speaking of New York …

Migrants in the Big Apple are going to work — off the books on an illegal underground gig economy, that is, which means they don’t contribute payroll taxes. Meanwhile, about 60,000 are still living off the city’s dime, with taxpayers shelling out about $40K per person. Mayor Eric Adams has estimated that this crisis will cost his city about $12 billion by 2025.

Moreover, of about 40,000 adults who are living in the five NYC boroughs, only about 800 have applied for federal work permits. As one Senegalese migrant told the New York Post:

We’re looking for anyone to hire us that won’t ask for papers. 

New Yorkers are fed up. So on Wednesday night, after learning that a new shelter was going to open on Staten Island, protesters flooded the streets and blocked a bus carrying migrants. One of the protest organizers, Scott LoBaido, spoke with Leland Vittert of NewsNation, and his rage was palpable. He expressed no love for the Biden administration, either.

I appreciate that LoBaido did not allow Vittert to use “But Ellis Island!” as a guilt trip. Immigrants who came through Ellis Island — like my mother’s parents — didn’t face the same regulations as today. Yet they still had to be scrutinized, they had to have money with them, as well as prove they had a job waiting. But, most importantly, they entered the country legally. 

LoBaido was also right about this: unvetted and illegal migrants are being sent to live among middle class citizens. Not the wealthy. Nor the elites, or people who live in gated communities. Blue collar and middle class New Yorkers get the privilege.

Meanwhile, House Republicans are launching an inquiry into whether or not to impeach Joe Biden. But why bother? Biden’s folly in keeping the southern border wide open and allowing legions of undocumented and uninvited migrants into the country should provide him enough rope to hang himself — politically speaking, that is.

Featured image: “Behind the Scenes of Joe Biden’s 1967 Corvette Stingray – Wilmington, DE – July 16, 2020” by Biden For President is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.