It appears that the migrant crisis has hit the fan recently, even though it has been happening since 2020. The reason why there is currently such a discussion concerning migrants entering the U.S. is that virtually every state is now affected. In the past, it was the border state's problem, i.e. “not in my backyard.”

Now that migrants are showing up in other cities away from the border, there is an outcry on what to do with them. The economic burden is enormous. A hospital in Denver, Colorado, is on the verge of closing because of unpaid services to migrants. The migrants crossing the border are essentially unvetted. There is no thorough review of their past criminal history. There is no medical exam to determine whether they carry a communicable disease. During the COVID-19 era, most Americans were required to be tested. Migrants were not. Other diseases carried by migrants, like measles and tuberculosis, have come into the country with apparent little concern by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Now, southern border states are sending migrants to sanctuary cities and states to relieve the pressure on their social services. The state of Illinois has been declared to be a sanctuary state. Therefore, being in the State of Illinois, Rochelle is declared by default to be a sanctuary city. Apparently, a sanctuary city is now eligible to receive migrants, house them, and care for them. The wave of migrants is headed west from Chicago, as evidenced by suburbs such as Elburn, Woodstock, and Aurora receiving migrants and passing ordinances on how to deal with them. More than 33,000 migrants have come to Chicago since 2022. Typically, how other city ordinances read is to send them back to Chicago or show a plan of how they would be housed and cared for, and who is going to pay for it.

It should be noted that these migrants have been allowed to enter the United States in a manner contrary to federal law. In this case, the current administration appears to consider federal law irrelevant. This large number of migrants crossing the southern border will continue for at least another year. There has been no official reason why this migrant invasion is allowed to happen. The most reasonable speculation from political pundits is to get as many migrants into the country as possible, give them amnesty, and expect them to vote for the present party in power.

So, it does not take a genius to conclude that the City of Rochelle should develop an ordinance to handle an influx of migrants when the migrant wave hits Ogle County. The cost of handling migrants could become a significant burden on the city's budget. They must be housed, fed, provided social services, have translators, and receive education, transportation, and medical care. Since they have not been granted work permits and thus are not allowed to work, they tend to resort to crime or the "underground economy" to make money.

The city council should declare Rochelle a lawful city, not a sanctuary city. Then, develop an ordinance that, when the time comes, requires migrants to be sent back to where the bus or other form of transportation picked them up.