Country music icon Willie Nelson teased the release of his latest album, “The Border,” in a Thursday announcement.
The title track of the album is a rendition of fellow singer-songwriter Rodney Crowell’s 2019 song, marking Mr. Nelson’s 75th studio release at the age of 91.
The song is written from the perspective of a Border Patrol agent as he observes the greed of smugglers, the human suffering of people trying to cross the Rio Grande, and the constant threats against his own life, with lyrics such as “I come home to Maria at the end of the day, in the shape of a shadow holding demons at bay” and “I lie awake at night knowing what I know, there’s a price on the head of every border patrol.”
Addressing the U.S.-Mexico border in the interview, Mr. Nelson reiterated his stance, stating: “We have a statue that says: ‘Y’all come in.' I don’t believe in closing the border. Open them suckers up!”
A Border in Crisis
This album comes as several so-called sanctuary states such as California, New York, and Illinois—which refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement—are overburdened by the influx of migrants crossing illegally into the United States by way of the U.S.-Mexico border.
The migrant welcome center in San Diego County, California, offering assistance to border arrivals, closed due to insufficient funds. With monthly operational expenses reaching around $1.5 million, the center ceased operations after its $6 million in funding was depleted.
Local nonprofits assisted hundreds of illegal immigrants released by Border Patrol at transit stations in February. Despite gratitude for their efforts, questions arise regarding fund management.
With federal funding supporting local shelter services, capacity constraints persist, posing challenges to meeting demand.
According to the latest data from City Hall, New York City is spending an average of $387 per day to accommodate a single illegal immigrant household in taxpayer-funded shelters. This figure, termed the “cumulative per diem,” represents the average daily expenditure on housing and meals for each illegal immigrant household since the onset of the crisis in spring 2022.
Drew Allen, author of “America’s Last Stand: Will You Vote to Save or Destroy America in 2024?” spoke to The Epoch Times about the price of housing illegal immigrants, noting America does not have the infrastructure or resources to keep up with the massive amount of border crossings.
“Biden is not an American president—he does not represent or defend the American people. He views himself, as does the Democratic Party, as an ambassador to foreign nations. Biden will claim illegals built the country while he pillages the paychecks of hard-working American citizens to house, clothe, and feed those who have contributed nothing—the illegals he so reveres.
Illegal Immigrant Crime
Just this week in Rockland, Massachusetts, a man residing in a hotel housing illegal immigrant families was charged with child rape. Cory Alvarez, 26, pleaded not guilty to one count of aggravated rape of a child in Hingham District Court. Massachusetts state Rep. David DeCoste expressed dismay in a statement on the state’s GOP website: “I am absolutely appalled by the incident that took place in Rockland today ... The Commonwealth has failed this young girl.”Rockland Police responded to a sexual assault report at the Comfort Inn, part of a program to house illegal immigrant families. The victim, a 15-year-old girl, was taken to South Shore Hospital.
Massachusetts GOP Chairwoman, Amy Carnevale, called it a “nightmare scenario” and stressed the need for discernment in managing the illegal immigrant crisis. She urged revisiting legislation regarding shelter rights.
In February, Georgia college student Laken Riley was found near a running trail on the University of Georgia campus, where she was a student.
A 26-year-old illegal immigrant and Venezuelan national named Jose Antonio Ibarra is accused of her killing and has been charged with malice murder and additional offenses related to the crime.
Mr. Ibarra’s brothers, Diego Ibarra and Argenis Ibarra, were first apprehended by Border Patrol on April 30, 2023, attempting to cross into El Paso, Texas. They had been deported on a previous attempt to enter near Eagle Pass, Texas, on April 3, 2023.
Mr. Diego Ibarra resisted arrest during the second attempt, but the FBI declined prosecution, citing a potential medical issue. He was released into the United States on the same day, citing fear for his life if he returned to Venezuela.
