Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

Charleroi, a small town in Pennsylvania, has witnessed a staggering 2,000% increase in its migrant population over the past two years, putting public systems under strain, fueling crime concerns, and eroding the local culture.

My mother, a Guatemalan immigrant, settled in Pittsburgh in the early 1980s under President Reagan's administration. I spent my first 20 years of life in South Hills, but today, my hometown is utterly unrecognizable.

The reason for this drastic transformation is the overwhelming number of migrants crossing our southern border. Since 2021, the migrant population in Pittsburgh has skyrocketed by 2,000%, reaching crisis levels.

Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

The small borough of Charleroi, nestled along the Monongahela River, has been particularly hard hit. Schools are overburdened, local businesses are experiencing a decline due to crime concerns, and residents are witnessing their culture being gradually extinguished.

This influx of migrants is not unintentional. The Biden-Harris administration's immigration policies have allowed millions of inadmissible aliens to enter the country at an unsustainable rate. The situation unfolding in Western Pennsylvania is unprecedented and unrecognizable.

Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

Pennyslvanians deserve an ordered and sustainable immigration system that does not compromise their quality of life. Overburdened public systems resulting from mass immigration are a major concern, costing Pennsylvanians $1.2 billion annually to cover medical, welfare, and education expenses.

Schools in Charleroi are struggling to accommodate the surge of migrants requiring English language instruction. The district has already spent $400,000 on ELL teachers and interpreters, but it remains insufficient.

Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

In Cornell School District, ELL class sizes have doubled since last year. Ringgold school board recently approved $142,000 for ESL services between 2024-2045, amounting to approximately $7,000 per student.

This financial burden weighs heavily on taxpayers while also hindering the overall learning experience for existing students. Classrooms already face teacher shortages, and the addition of students with language barriers exacerbates the challenges.

Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

Standardized test scores in public schools around Pittsburgh have plummeted since 2019, possibly reflecting these educational disruptions. Parents and students have had little say in these drastic changes.

Aside from the strains on schools and finances, the influx of migrants has also led to heightened crime concerns. Charleroi residents express fear of visiting downtown stores due to crime.

Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

The Biden-Harris administration has facilitated the entry of at least 12 million illegal immigrants, many of whom have been involved in additional crimes. Pennsylvania has witnessed several high-profile illegal immigrant crimes since the administration took office, including murders.

These incidents highlight the urgency of preventing such crimes from occurring in the first place. Those responsible should not have been in the country in the first place due to their illegal status.

Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

Pittsburgh is on the brink of following in the footsteps of cities such as New York and Chicago, where mass immigration has caused a mass exodus of residents. However, this destiny is not inevitable.

Western Pennsylvania has a choice. It can either embrace the chaos or advocate for an immigration system that prioritizes Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania Town Overwhelmed by Migrant Influx, Residents Fear for Safety and Quality of Life

Immigration can benefit Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the United States, but only within reasonable limits. Our immigration system must prioritize skills, education, English literacy, and a commitment to assimilating into American society.

It must be selective to ensure that Pennsylvanians are not sacrificed at the expense of foreign nationals. The Trump administration's immigration policies exemplified these principles, and Pennsylvanians enjoyed a significantly higher quality of life during that period.

Immigration can have a high cost, but it can also be beneficial if managed wisely. However, the current system is unsustainable and detrimental to the well-being of Pennsylvanians.