Democrat Mayor Sparks Uproar for Saying Migrants 'Aren't Welcome'

The Democratic mayor of Edison, New Jersey, is facing criticism after saying immigrants "aren't welcome" there amid an uptick in migrants arriving in cities across the United States.

Democratic mayors are facing new pressure as thousands of migrants have been transported from the U.S.-Mexico border to cities including New York and Chicago. There were more than 2.4 million encounters at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2023 fiscal year, up from roughly 1.7 million in 2021, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data.

Efforts to bus migrants away from the border have been led by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who has faced backlash as critics accuse him of using migrants as political pawns. The White House slammed the "stunt" as "cruel, dangerous and shameful." Abbott has defended the move as necessary, pointing to Texas' border towns becoming overwhelmed with migrants and that sanctuary cities should be prepared to take in more.

The busing of migrants to sanctuary cities shifted some leaders' stance on immigration, causing some Democratic mayors to embrace a more hawkish position on migration and criticize President Joe Biden's approach to border security, which critics argue has made it easier for migrants to enter the U.S. illegally. The issue has forced Democrats to grapple with a lack of resources to support migrants while also appeasing the party's liberal base of voters, who are generally pro-immigrant.

Edison Mayor Sam Joshi is among those Democratic mayors facing new pressure on the issue of migration.

During a media interview earlier this month, Joshi said his city cannot accept new immigrants, sparking outrage from some members of his community. He responded to that criticism in a statement to Newsweek Monday morning.

"As the son of immigrants, I understand this issue very well. Edison has a large immigrant population and the overwhelming majority of Edison residents, most notably the immigrant community, support my position and I'm proud to represent their best interests," he said.

During an interview with local media, Joshi had said he wanted to "make it clear that our position in Edison township is that they're not welcome here."

"They're illegal, and they belong on the other side of the border. We don't want them in Edison, period. That's the bottom line," he said, New Jersey Monitor reported. He also said he would order the city's police department to charter a bus to take migrants to "the other side of the border."

His comments come after about 1,000 migrants who sought asylum at the border sent from Texas to New York City stopped in New Jersey to get around the city's rules about where migrants could be dropped off, the outlet reported.

In a video posted to his Facebook page, Joshi said the issue should be handled by the federal, not local, governments. He said at least two buses filled with "undocumented" migrants arrived in Edison in recent days, adding that residents should not "vilify or dehumanize" migrants.

"Edison does not have the financial or social service resources required. We cannot afford to put them in long-term hotel stays or provide housing or educational services to our already overcrowded schools," Joshi said.

"Edison is not suffering from a lack of resources. It is suffering from a lack of empathy and compassion, and its leadership is also suffering from a lack of imagination," Catalina Adorno, an organizer with immigrant advocacy organization Movimento Cosecha, said during a council meeting on Thursday.

Edison City Councilmember Ajay Patil also denounced Joshi's remarks.

"I'm really disappointed in the mayor, who happens to be the son of immigrants. I don't think you really understand what immigration means. I don't think. Otherwise he would not have given any statement in media. He could have stayed out. Edison is more than 50 percent immigrants. They are the backbone of this town. I'm shocked the mayor would go to the extremes," he said.