(TheProudRepublic.com) – The persistent influx of illegal immigration under Joe Biden’s administration is intensifying an existing housing crisis in the United States, which exacerbates affordability issues for average Americans.
According to Pew Charitable Trusts, the U.S. is currently facing a shortfall of between 4 million and 7 million homes as developers grapple with economic challenges and complex regulations that hinder construction efforts.
This deficit is pushing housing costs upward, worsened by inflation and rising mortgage rates. However, the recent surge of illegal individuals is placing additional pressure on the housing supply, which creates demand that outpaces construction capabilities, experts noted.
E.J. Antoni, a research fellow at the Heritage Foundation’s Grover M. Hermann Center for the Federal Budget, stated, “Importing millions of people will clearly increase the demand for all necessities, including housing, and that’s true whether the people come here legally or illegally.”
He also highlighted that the impact is particularly evident in border states and sanctuary cities, where Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been actively relocating newcomers.
Moreover, the situation has led to visible strains in cities like Miami and New York, where local authorities are using hotels as migrant shelters to manage the overwhelming numbers.
Despite these challenges, Andrew Arthur, a resident fellow in law and policy at CIS, explained, “All of those people have to find a place to live, and they can only live in government-provided housing and sanctuary cities for so long. So that’s going to push all those folks out. They’re probably going to go into multifamily housing.”
Arthur also pointed out the lengthy and expensive process of apartment construction, noting, “It can take a year and a half to two years to actually get one apartment built, so there’s no way to accommodate this massive illegal flow that exacerbates the housing shortage in the United States…”
Additionally, this hasty influx poses challenges for developers, who struggle with obtaining financing due to the unpredictable demand driven by undocumented immigration.
As inflation continues to drive up costs, and shelter expenses have increased significantly since Biden’s inauguration, the housing market remains a critical issue.
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