Betsy McCaughey: Hotel America Needs to End

My sister-in law, a Cape Cod nurse, is planning to visit New York City, but she’s having trouble finding an affordable hotel.

A Venezuelan immigrant, who arrived in New York on a bus, would have the chance to get a room at Row, a four-star hotel just steps from Times Square. Or, a room at SpringHill Suites or Marriott, a Holiday Inn Express hotel or Comfort Inn. No cost.

Hotel America, welcome! Three meals a day are available to new migrants. They can also enjoy snacks and room service at any hour. All provided by local taxpayers.

New York is already a sanctuary and has begun to attract migrants with these outrageous freebies.

Maine is another destination for migration. It is the Northeast’s poorest state and the country’s poorest. It is the most popular destination for African and Haitian migrants. Maine is the place to be.

About 400 families from migrant backgrounds are currently staying in Maine hotels and motels. The Maine Housing Authority used Emergency Rental Assistance funds provided to Congress by Congress to pay the bill.

While some states reserve funds for people who are homeless, Maine allows the money to be used to help newcomers. Now that federal funds are exhausted, the state asks taxpayers for $182 million to fund the hotels and motels for migrants.

Maine has the highest homelessness rate in the past 15 years. Shelters are at capacity, and the homeless try to survive the winter in tents.

Is this the Americans’ last policy? The “immigration industrial complex” — a web of politicians, immigration attorneys and nonprofits who operate on government grants to care for migrants.

Motivated by ideology and the promise of public money, they are a force for good. “immigration industrial complex” Pushes for more money for migrants. It gets too little pushback from veterans groups and other Americans who need help themselves, and from taxpayers forced to provide things for migrants that they can’t afford themselves — like hotel stays.

Eric Adams, New York City’s Mayor, was in El Paso, Texas over the weekend. Adams complained that migrants are a problem. “false impression” They will be living in hotels.

It’s not a false impression, Mr. Mayor. You can be grateful for the expectations of migrants. You signed a contract Friday with the Hotel Association of New York City, which reserved 55 entire hotels exclusively for immigrants. This news spreads like wildfire all the way to Latin America.

New York City’s wave of migrants is known as the “anonymous wave”. “emergency” It will be the new normal due to the numerous amenities offered by the city.

Port Authority provides many services to migrants arriving from abroad, including legal representation and immigration lawyers paid for by the city and state.

Adams made the announcement Dec. 14 as if this were not enough. “Promise NYC,” Undocumented children are the target of a new program in child care.

The “immigration industrial complex” It is pushing for more across the country. Washington State just opened up its Obamacare health insurance program to the undocumented — another magnet sure to attract migrants. The Affordable Care Act expressly bars undocumented enrollees, but the Biden administration — the “immigration industrial complex’s” best friend — granted the state a waiver to include people here illegally.

One century ago, immigrants from Europe arrived in America to begin new lives. They moved to New York in Lower East Side Tenements. There were many families that shared one flat. They cared for themselves and contributed to New York’s future.

Dominicans came to New York City as a wave in the 1960s and settled in Washington Heights. Apartments were affordable there. They became a major force within the city.

The future of this country and the city is dependent on immigration. However, housing migrants in luxurious hotels and offering services Americans cannot afford is a bad idea. It will lead to resentment.

The Hotel America should be replaced by simple, bare-bones accommodation. They need a roof over their heads. Any more will attract migrants with wild expectations and make matters worse.

Betsy McCaughey was a former lieutenant governor for New York and is currently the Chairman of the Committee to Reduce Infection Deaths. Follow Betsy McCaughey @Betsy_McCaughey. Visit the Creators Syndicate website www.creators.com for more information about Betsy McCaughey. You can also read cartoonists and writers from Creators Syndicate.

Photo credit: PublicDomainPictures Pixabay