As the iconic symbol of freedom and opportunity, I stand witness to the dire consequences of President Biden's open border policies. The connection between Democrats' sanctuary city policies and the current illegal immigration crisis is undeniable.

While millions cross illegally into the United States, no one wins, no one succeeds, least of all the migrants hoping to find a better life. This self-reinforcing crisis has spiraled out of control, with leftist only now realizing millions of indigent migrants cannot be sustained.

The illegal immigration crisis at the southern border has reached unprecedented levels under President Biden's watch. In December alone, there were a staggering 250,000 illegal crossings, a 31% increase from the previous month and a record-breaking 13% increase from December 2022. These numbers are not just statistics; they represent individuals crossing the border unlawfully, including criminals, terrorists, and drugs, such as fentanyl, which poses a grave threat to our nation.

Moreover, the financial burden on American taxpayers is estimated to exceed $151 billion, according to the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

However, beyond the visceral impact of these numbers, there is a fundamental issue that is both constitutionally and morally distressing. We find ourselves in a situation where negotiations with the President are necessary to urge him to fulfill his primary duty: protecting the border. It is a disgrace that America must haggle with its own leader over something that should be his top priority.

The direct line from Democrats' sanctuary city policies to the current illegal immigration crisis cannot be ignored.

Since the 1980s, sanctuary cities, such as Denver, have obstructed immigration enforcement, refused to cooperate with ICE, and hindered the duties of ICE personnel. These actions created incentives for illegal immigration, but there was always a deterrent—illegal immigrants had to reach these cities first. Unfortunately, President Biden's actions upon taking office removed that deterrent, signaling a welcome mat to those seeking to cross the border unlawfully.

Since Biden's inauguration, America's southern border has witnessed a record-breaking 6.3 million migrant encounters, with 2.4 million individuals allowed into the country, according to the Migration Policy Institute. These figures only represent known encounters, leaving a significant number of individuals who have evaded contact with U.S. officials unaccounted for.

Democrats, at both the local and federal levels, have incentivized illegal immigration by creating hundreds of sanctuary cities and by neglecting to enforce border security. This virtue-signaling has resulted in real-life consequences for cities and their residents, who bear the financial burden of their elected officials' misguided actions. It is akin to the defund the police movements, where dropping enforcement leads to increased activity.

The consequences of liberal rhetoric are now piling up, forcing cities to backtrack on defunding the police and refund them. We are watching this in real time in Denver.

Democrats, driven by extreme leftist elitists, refuse to take necessary action to address the crisis they have created. Their open border principles override any responsibility they have to protect American citizens. Instead, they hope that someone else will step in to solve the problem they are unwilling to confront.

To make matters worse, the Biden administration has gone the other direction, taking legal action against Texas for attempting to defend their border—a clear display of incompetence turned into anti-competence, shifting from a sin of omission to a sin of commission.

As the Statue of Liberty, I stand as a symbol of hope and freedom. But today, I witness the erosion of the values that have made this nation great. It is imperative that we hold our leaders accountable and demand action to address this crisis before irreparable damage is done to our country's security and prosperity.

-- Screaming Liberty