Migration Increases in San Diego as California Exodus Persists

The exodus of Californians leaving the state is predicted to worsen, as reported by Newsweek, while San Diego emerges as a primary entry point for illegal migrants into the United States.

Based on data from moveBuddha, searches for moving out of California metro areas to other states ranked fifth out of ten for the most popular moving routes from January 1 to May 17. The most searched route was from Los Angeles, California, to New York City, New York. The second most popular route was from New York City to Miami, Florida.

Tom Vogl, an associate economics professor at the University of California San Diego, stated to Newsweek that the main driving factor behind this trend is housing.

Vogl mentioned, “All the data I’ve seen suggests that housing is the primary issue. The cost of a typical house in California is twice that of a house in Texas, which is the most common destination for out-migrants from California. Surveys show that out-migrants now cite housing as the main reason for leaving, whereas in past decades, reasons like jobs and family were more common.”

“The high housing costs in California make it difficult to afford living here. California is also at the forefront of the homelessness crisis in the US, which is another consequence of unaffordable housing and may further motivate residents to relocate,” he added.

The surge in migration to San Diego comes as The New York Times reported on June 4 that San Diego has become a top destination for migrants along the southern US border, surpassing Arizona and Texas in illegal crossings this year.

While Texas Governor Greg Abbott has tightened measures on illegal immigration, San Diego has seen an increase in migrants entering the city. We All We Got San Diego, a mutual aid group, has been providing assistance to stranded migrants at the airport, relying solely on donations due to reduced funding.

Despite the influx of migrants, there is a lack of involvement from county, government, federal, and city authorities in assisting these individuals, as highlighted by Krystle Johnson, a volunteer with the group.

President Joe Biden issued an executive order on June 4 to suspend asylum processing at the southern border if the weekly average of unauthorized migrants exceeds 2,500. However, certain exceptions allow migrants to enter the US for various reasons.

Recent revelations by the Alabama secretary of state, shared with Newsmax, suggest that the Biden administration is facilitating voter registration for illegal migrants.