As Title 42 ends, local migrant services urge critics to consider why migrants cross

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Migrant services offered at the Catherine McAauley Center in Iowa are more in demand than ever. Most recently, this is due to the hundreds of Afghans resettling in Eastern Iowa. “We received approximately 250 Afghans in a two-and-a-half-month timeframe which is unprecedented for our center,” said Abby Freese from the Catherine McAuley Center.

While they don’t expect anything like that in the days and weeks ahead, eventually some crossing the southern border will relocate to Iowa. “10,000 immigrants every single day, that’s twice the number of people that live in my community in Red Oak, Iowa, coming across the border." Said Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.

She and other Republican leaders have been critical of the President's decision to end the pandemic-era rule with the rest of the COVID Emergency. "Joe Biden owns this national security disaster, and he needs to fix it. It starts with securing our border and addressing our broken immigration policies. The American people deserve nothing less.” Said Gov. Kim Reynolds. "President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas have created and perpetuated a horrific humanitarian and security crisis at our Southern Border." Said Congresswoman Ashley Hinson.

Most migrants are in Mexico, many of them trying to get asylum appointments for months and weary of waiting. Senator Ernst says those illegal crossings make this a national emergency. “You know Iowa is not considered a border state, but all states are now becoming a border state,” said Ernst.

Leaders at the Catherine McAauley Center believe that many people are afraid of what could happen once Title 42 is lifted because they have never met someone who would risk everything to come to the US. “We’re all human beings, we all have the same basic needs, and it doesn’t matter how different we all are we should have the same human rights,” said one leader.

One thing both sides can agree on is that millions are still looking to the US for a new life. But where they differ is the balance between welcoming millions of migrants yearning for a fresh start with the few seeking to do harm.

In an effort to try and ease the rush to the southern border, the Biden administration is increasing the monthly number of legal migrants from several countries by tens of thousands a month. Those wishing to enter the US that way must do so through an airport.