April 17, 2024 |
Photo – Migrants wait in a line – Courtesy Baker Institute
At least one Hanna resident is concerned about the possibility of illegal immigrants being transported to the former coal town.
According to NBC News, over the past year, 2.76 million illegal immigrants entered the United States, or 479% of the population of Wyoming.
The U.S. House of Representatives reports that under President Joe Biden’s watch, over 8 million migrant encounters have occurred nationwide nearly 7 million of those along the southwest border. Associated with the border crossings, more than 50,000 pounds of deadly fentanyl have flowed into the country along with apprehensions of terrorists on U.S. watchlists.
Many of the illegal border crossers are being transported to so-called “sanctuary cities” like liberal Denver, Colorado, where the Democrat mayor is cutting for city services, including police, to come up with nearly $90 million to respond to the crisis. According to a USA Today article, “About 36,000 migrants have been bused from Texas to Denver in the past year.”
The influx of immigrants has strained the Mile High City’s annual budget, the housing market and police force. Reports have surfaced saying that Denver officials, struggling with the crisis, have begun busing illegal aliens north into Wyoming. Earlier this month, Bigfoot 99 received one unconfirmed report about “buses of migrants being dropped off in Rock Springs.” We have been unable to confirm or deny that report.
The source told this reporter on April 11th, “Two full buses about three weeks ago.” Again this is an unconfirmed report.
In the meantime, one Hanna resident is worried that illegal immigrants are coming to her town. During the April 9th Hanna town council meeting, resident Rose Dabbs said she recently heard that illegals will begin living in the vacant homes in town.
The Hanna town council said they had not heard the rumor. Dabbs said both Cheyenne and Laramie were planning to relocate the illegal immigrants sent by Denver to small towns throughout the Cowboy State.
Mayor Jon Ostling said if that were true, he would have been notified of the plan.
The business of transporting illegal migrants released from custody at the border is a murky business. U.S. Customs and Border Patrol transports many of the illegals, arriving here without proper paperwork, to nonprofit organizations in border communities. According to the Migration Policy Institute, a liberal think tank that seeks to improve immigration and integration policies, basic assistance is paid for and transportation is provided in murky, underground markets. In many cases, migrants pay for buses or flights to other U.S. destinations, but other organizations sometimes cover costs for those who cannot afford it.
To be clear, news that illegals have arrived in Wyoming is unconfirmed. Despite Cheyenne’s proximity to Denver and the problems there, leadership in Cheyenne has been silent about the issue and the potential threat to limited state resources, which includes food and housing in many Wyoming towns.
At the Hanna Town Council meeting, Dabbs said the immigrants are not at fault. The Hanna resident said the illegal migrants are looking for a safe place to live, but the federal government is failing to keep them out of the country. Councilman Sam Sikes said the best thing for the immigrants to do is go back where they came from. Councilman Sikes said if illegal immigrants were being brought into the town, the council would not hide it from citizens.
Wyomingites aren’t the only Americans concerned about illegal immigrants. According to the most recent Harvard Caps Harris Poll, immigration is the second most critical issue facing the American people. Twenty-one percent of the 2,111 poll respondents reported that immigration is their most personally important topic. Inflation takes the top spot with 38% of people reporting that price increases are negatively affecting them.
In April of 2021, Governor Mark Gordon said the State of Wyoming will not participate in relocation or housing efforts of illegal immigrants.
However, in July of that same year, several illegals were arrested by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency hiding in the Cowboy State. Whether it’s through efforts by cities to relocate them or through President Biden’s unwillingness to detain people illegally crossing the southern border, immigrants have made their way into Wyoming.
No matter your political affiliation, it cannot be denied that the Biden administration’s immigration policies are putting a severe financial strain on states across the country. Wyoming could be next.
The situation is clearly on the minds of Wyoming residents.
Meanwhile, just over the state line in Denver, Mayor Mike Johnston is planning to cut $45 million from city agencies there, including the police department, to help fund a program to deal with a recent influx of migrants.
The issue may be out sight in Wyoming for now, but it is not out of mind.
In Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman was among 12 House colleagues who delivered Articles of Impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate over his handling of the southern border.
Representative Hageman will serve as an impeachment manager for any Senate trial of Secretary Mayorkas.
Rep. Hageman stated, “Secretary Mayorkas has violated his oath of office and is derelict in his obligation to keep us safe from enemies foreign and domestic. The two articles of impeachment were filed in response to his willful and systemic refusal to comply with – and violation of — federal immigration laws, and breach of the public trust.”
Rep. Hageman will be in Rawlins on Tuesday, April 23rd to meet with constituents. The congresswoman will be at the Jeffrey Memorial Center from 5:30 to 6:30.
