The US should emulate Europe’s approach to addressing the migrant ‘invasion’

Americans should not have to give up their country to the millions crossing the Rio Grande and breaking through fences to enter.

In Europe, regular citizens are fighting to protect their continent and their standard of living from the effects of mass migration.

Americans should take note of these Europeans and find inspiration.

Opposing the expenses of housing, feeding, and educating migrants does not make you a racist or a bigot.

There is a global movement of people seeking the better life they have heard about in the US and Europe.

They are forcing their way in, disregarding immigration laws.    

Most of these migrants are not impoverished.

According to the Center for Global Development, they have above-average incomes in their home countries and are moving to improve their lives.

Migration is a contentious issue in the upcoming European Union parliamentary elections in June.

The EU, made up of 26 countries based in Brussels, mandates that every member country must take in migrants or pay other members to do it for them.

Populist politicians in the Netherlands, Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic are pushing back against this. 

Prime Minister Donald Tusk of Poland is adamant.

Poland will not be required to accept any migrants and will not be subjected to migrant quotas imposed by the EU, he declared last week.

The Netherlands recently formed a coalition government committed to opposing migration and implementing the strictest asylum regulations ever. 

This sets the stage for a confrontation with Brussels. The Dutch government aims to exempt itself from EU migration quotas.   

Dutch activist Eva Vlaardingerbroek criticized the “corrupt elite” in Brussels for allowing the invasion and burdening the native population with the costs. 

Similar to how the Biden administration makes New Yorkers and Chicagoans pay.  

Hungary is also expected to opt out, despite Brussels threatening legal action against non-compliant countries.

“Hungary will never succumb to the mass migration frenzy,” pledged Prime Minister Victor Orban.

Fifteen EU member countries — more than half the coalition — petitioned Brussels last week to keep asylum seekers out of Europe until their claims are processed and validated. 

The petitioners, led by Denmark, propose holding migrants offshore in non-EU nations.  

Currently, fewer than half of asylum seekers are successful in their claims, yet the losers remain in Europe, sidestepping the law. 

They cannot demonstrate legitimate persecution based on their race, religion, or political beliefs. Some refer to them as “fakugees.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reached an agreement to house asylum seekers in Albania at Italy’s expense while their claims are assessed. The 15 petitioning countries suggest a policy similar to Meloni’s — dubbed “Remain in Albania” — should be adopted across the EU. This mirrors Trump’s Remain in Mexico policy.

Many Europeans are questioning why they should surrender their continent to those who manage to enter.   

Likewise, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is committed to “stopping the boats” carrying asylum seekers across the English Channel illegally.

He asserts that the British public has the right to decide “who crosses our borders.” 

Parliament passed a stringent measure allowing the government to detain illegal migrants and send them to Rwanda, where their asylum applications will be processed.

Even those granted asylum will be required to remain in Rwanda — not the ideal destination — removing any motivation to sneak across the Channel.

Humanitarian groups are objecting, but Austria endorsed the tough UK approach on Monday.

Meanwhile, on the American side, 77% of Americans view illegal immigration as a “crisis” or a “major issue,” according to Pew.

More than two-thirds of Americans, including 40% of Democrats, disapprove of Biden’s immigration policies, according to an AP survey.

Black leaders are upset that resources are being diverted to migrants from their communities.  

The Biden administration has incorrectly depicted the southern border situation as inevitable. 

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas claimed last week that “we have to put things into context,” emphasizing that “the world is witnessing the greatest displacement since at least World War II.” 

Don’t be swayed by the emotional narratives.

Most migrants come for economic reasons, bypassing legal immigrants and defying a nation’s right to control its borders.  

The left argues that migration is a humanitarian emergency. 

They are mistaken: It is an unlawful invasion.

Europeans are pushing back.

Americans should do the same.

Betsy McCaughey is a former lieutenant governor of New York.