New Jersey Expects a Huge Surge of Haitian Refugees…But at What Cost?
The devastating January 12th earthquake in Haiti displaced thousands of people, and New Jersey is jumping to the rescue. Will the state’s relief efforts actually hurt New Jersey’s fragile treasury?
How do you think New Jersey officials should help Haitian refugees? Leave us a comment and let us know your thoughts!
The Garden State is experiencing a surge of refugees, which would put even more pressure on the state treasury. According to confidential documents obtained by the Star-Ledger, New Jersey officials are concerned that the number of Haitians would require that the government intervene to meet their medical, educational, housing, and other needs. 
Although the document gave no specific estimate about exactly how many refugees are expected in New Jersey, a massive influx of Haitians are expected to seek asylum with members of their family who already reside in the state. New Jersey has the fourth largest Haitian population in the country, with nearly 57,000 residents having been born in Haiti or are of Haitian descent. Most of them live in Essex and Union counties.
Stan Neron, executive director of NJ 4 Haiti, an alliance of community groups, said New Jerseyans with connections to Haiti are already working to bring their relatives to the state. However, the families won’t be able to support their relatives without outside assistance.
“Because of the Haitian population base in New Jersey, the potential for family connections to victims is apparent,” according to the documents. “The tilting point of supporting educational, social and cultural requirements by New Jersey’s Haitian community for an increasing number of visa-holding Haitians could be exceeded at some point. …It is prudent for the state to plan for a surge.”
The report was prepared by members of Chris Christie’s administration. State officials are working to determine exactly what services the refugees will need and how they intend to pay for them, which will be a huge challenge for a new administrating that is facing a $1 billion shortfall in the budget.
Since taking office on January 19th, the Christie administration as predicted steep spending cuts as he works to fix the New Jersey state budget, which has been ravaged by the recession.
Other states are already experiencing an influx of Haitian refugees. Last week, officials in Florida stopped flights from Haiti, saying that their state’s health care system is overflowing with patients whose care is expected to cost millions of dollars.
New York City recently opened a central resource center for people who were affected by the earthquake, and New Jersey plans to open a one-stop assistance center of its own. State officials are bracing for an influx of individuals who have a variety of needs, ranging from immunizations and mental health programs to long-term housing situations.
Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) said he believes the Christie administration will do everything it can to quickly help refugees, but the federal government must then reimburse New Jersey dollar-for-dollar for the cost.
“The federal government is under a moral obligation to provide the resources,” Lesniak said. “Everyone’s going to step up to the plate.”
Filed in: Local Community Edition.
iam a new yorker i fell this country is the only one who gives aid to these ravages countries we alreardy have to many illegals drainihg the system while we have our owh citizens wirh no jobs and no heaalth are suffering to hell with the rest of the world take care of our own
used to the smart and genius people come to this country, because of world war and unstable situation around the world. But now, what i can see some rich and famous people move back where they were born, while pour people still going to US. That is why starting from 70’s US slowly degrade and become more poor every year. The help Haiti is good move, but if they stay here – its will finally make US look likes Haiti. Millions of people do not work already – only get public assistance and free healthcare. People from Haiti never going to work. Do you ever been there – crime and poverty – now it will be in NJ….
The earthquake is not the fault of the Haitian people. When these things happen, the United States must be the first responder. That is our unshakable heritage
Isn’t it a shame, thanks to George W. Bush, and his Republican snake-oil salespeople, that we no longer have Bill Clinton’s $236,000,000,000.00 surplus? It could have really come in handy. We would have been the first country, and given the most.
But since we no longer have that option, New Jersey will have no alternative but to impose either a millionaire tax, or a tax on Wall St. They should immediately impose bank taxes and stock-transfer taxes. They may as well since their Treasury is already depleted. And, after all, it isn’t that Wall St can’t afford it, after the way they were spoiled by Bush. It’s time for them to give part of their profits back.
If Christie doesn’t want to do it, (AND HE WON’T), New Jersey will simply be overrun with thousands of homeless Haitians. People will never learn that voting Republican isn’t the answer to their problems. In fact, it creates them.
I have helped with donations every time there is a tragic situation in another country. How much can the US taken on when we have people who need our help right here. There are thousands of people out of work with no health coverage, many have lost their homes yet the US is the first to aid all the other countries, well what about us. The US has sent billions to Haiti and more is coming, why can’t they go to other countries or is the US turning its head on those in need here to take of those elsewhere? The social security increase for millions of people in the US has been put on hold for 2 years, there are seniors who can’t afford to eat and pay their bills, what are we supposed to do. US take care of your own then worry about the rest.
Enough is enough! When is this country of ours going to learn that we CANNOT feed,clothe,care for ALL of the ravaged peoples of the world? We as taxpayers are fed up with bailing out EVERY country in the world that suffers a calalmity (either self inflicted or natural disasters). I feel badly for those affected in Haiti but isn’t it time for the corrupt governments of that country to start spending the aid sent to them to their people instead of stuffing the cash in their pockets? Also, how about a helping hand from the rest of the world? Are we the only shlubs that dole out relief in troubled times/ What about other countries like China, India, the Carribbean countries
contributing? I GIVE relief..it’s called “foreign aid” and is given through my taxes!
DO NOT ADMIT THEM OR GIVE THEM WELFARE OR OTHER BENEFITS. SEND THEN TO NYC OR DC.
It is ironic that ten people are awaiting trial for trying to take thirty-three children to the Dominican Republic which is on the same island. Meanwhile 106 children went to Holland and tens of thousands are going to come to NJ. Instead of depopulating the country steps should be taken by the donor countries to ensure that the aid goes where it is needed. The people who race to assist in an emergency are disgusted to see that corruption as usual is taking over.
We in NJ are very generous and willing to help. However, I for one do not want to see thens of thousands of homeless, helpless people who need every service available at no cost to them come here and have me and mine pay for them.
Consider the schools as an example. The Haitian children are going to need multiple services. On top of everything else, they speak French.
I do not agree with this move.