Officials in Philadelphia are asking whatever happened to the migrant buses arriving in the sanctuary city from Texas. The city has not had to deal with the arrival of migrant buses since January 7. Just as suddenly as they began, the arrival of the buses from Texas stopped. Now Philadelphia is preparing for what may happen when Title 42 ends next month.

Buses began arriving in Philadelphia, a sanctuary city, in November 2022 and continued until January 7. A total of 19 buses were sent to Philadelphia from Texas over that time period.

To be clear, the number of migrants bussed to Philadelphia so far has been minuscule compared to the flood of migrants coming across the border in Texas and other border states. The total is less than 1,000. Texas sometimes receives that number of illegal aliens in one day along the southern border.

So now Philadelphia is enjoying a pause in welcoming illegal immigrants to the city and preparing for the next buses if they arrive after Title 42 expires. How nice for Philly. Texas and Arizona and New Mexico don’t have the luxury of enjoying a pause. The war on America’s sovereignty happens every single day along the southern border. Border states are on the hook to use their resource to take care of illegal immigrants until they are transferred somewhere else, or deported.

It remains to be seen what will happen when Title 42 expires next month. There will likely be a renewed flood of migrants crossing the border with impunity. It’s been reported that thousands are waiting on the Mexican side of the border to cross into Texas until the end of Title 42 arrives. Amy Eusebio, director of the Office of Immigrant Affairs in Philadelphia, said that the city is prepared.

The Biden administration has flip-flopped on the use of Title 42. Joe Biden used executive orders and memos on his first day in office to do away with most of Trump’s policies and agreements for border security. He left in place Title 42, though, and that angered his progressive base. The administration defended its use of Title 42 in court until it didn’t. Now the administration is opposed to the use of Title 42 and agrees with the CDC’s opinion that there is no longer a need for the use of Title 42 at the border since the pandemic is over. Title 42 has been used more than 2 million times since the pandemic began.

City officials and their nonprofit partners, who met bus after bus, often in freezing, pre-dawn temperatures, aren’t sure what to expect. The same volume of people? Fewer? More? But they say they’re poised to quickly relaunch and recalibrate what was a safe and successful welcome effort.

“Those mechanics are still ready,” said Peter Pedemonti, co-director of New Sanctuary Movement of Philadelphia, one of the organizations that played a central role in assisting newcomers.

When the first bus arrived on Nov. 16, bringing about 30 migrants to a side street near the train station, passengers were quickly checked for medical emergencies, then offered blankets, coats, and hot drinks.

Some were picked up by family members. Others boarded a waiting bus to be transferred to a city-run welcome center in North Philadelphia, where government workers and immigrant-assistance groups provided food, temporary housing, legal services, and logistical support.

During roughly seven weeks, 838 immigrants arrived here, according to city officials. Almost all moved on, connecting with family in surrounding states, while about 50 indicated a desire to stay in Philadelphia. About 18 people remain at the Welcome Center for now.

That’s the dirty little secret – most of the ones arriving in Philadelphia didn’t stay there. They went on to other cities and state. Only about 50 planned to stay in Philadelphia. None of this is overwhelming to a city the size of Philadelphia. Pretending that it is all such a burden is a joke.

A small number of illegal immigrants arrive in Philadelphia on their own by bus or plane. Emilio Buitrago, a founder of Casa De Venezuela, whose volunteers work to help and direct those newcomers, said they get a call every day. A call? Please.

Clara Jerez, a pastoral associate at Aquinas Community Center of St. Thomas Aquinas in Point Breeze, is working with a dozen illegal immigrant families and individuals. They connect illegal immigrants to housing and other services. Finding housing for a dozen families is nothing compared to the thousands of people who are in need of such services after crossing into border communities.

The irony does not go unnoticed that sanctuary cities are vocally objecting to migrant buses arriving in their cities. It’s what they asked for with their sanctimonious slogans. Everyone is welcome in their city unless someone takes them up on it.

Governor Abbott has probably paused migrant buses while the Texas Legislature is in session. It began on the second Tuesday in January. It lasts for no more than 140 days. It will finish on May 29. By then, Title 42 will have expired. We’ll see how this plays out in Texas.