D.C. reaches housing capacity for incoming migrants 

Washington, D.C. officials said that the city’s housing capacity for migrants has reached full capacity, days before a surge in migrants is expected to enter the United States. 

The District of Columbia's Human Services Office of Migrant Services has said that the city is running out of space to house incoming migrants in its shelters and hotels and will temporarily stop accepting new individuals. 

“New intakes are temporarily paused at this time while we continue our work helping families identify pathways for long-term sustainability and self-sufficiency based on their needs, both inside and outside the region,” said the spokesperson in a statement.

Last week, the Human Services Office of Migrant Services said they reached full capacity, after intaking 1,249 individuals from 370 families and housing them across three different hotels in the city. 

The hotels, however, are only meant to provide temporary housing for the migrants that are being bused to the nation’s capital. City officials do not indent for them to be a permanent measure. 

“Our current system is not functioning. Migrants coming to the city placed in hotels are staying in hotels for extended periods of time, leaving no space for new migrants due to a lack of turnover,” said Councilmember Robert White.

Beginning last spring, thousands of migrants have been bused from the U.S.-Mexico border area to the nation’s capital. However, officials believe that there could be a significant increase in migrants arriving at the city after the COVID-19 immigration policy Title 42 is set to end on May 11. The policy allows border officials to quickly expel migrants at the border without reviewing their cases based on preventing the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. 

D.C. Council members and immigration advocates said they are trying to increase funds to house more migrants and prevent a humanitarian crisis. They calling on the federal government to help out. 

"I support putting more rainy day funds forward but that just means we end up back in the exact same place in a few weeks if more systemic things don't change," said White. "Those things include funding from the federal government and the federal government taking a look at work requirements."

Immigration advocates worry that without more resources to help the incoming migrants settle down when they arrive in the city, many will be forced to take shelter on the streets. 

“Families will be sleeping on the streets,” says Bianca Vazquez, an organizer with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network. “I think we would be looking at 10 to 20 families on the street per week if we don’t figure out a more sustainable system.”