JOHN YANG: The complications resulting from the influx of migrants isn't limited to just big cities like New York and Chicago.

PBS's Wisconsin's Nathan Denzin went to a small city in southern Wisconsin to see the effects there.

WOMAN: It's another generation of families coming here trying to get jobs, you know, feed their children get their children through school.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Since 2022, around 800 to 1,000 migrants from Central and South America have come to Whitewater Wisconsin, putting a strain on local resources, some of the most vulnerable in that population, our children.

MIGUEL ARANDA, Whitewater School Board: We're trying our best to really how can we advocate for these children.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Miguel Aranda is a member of the Whitewater School Board and a second generation immigrant from Mexico.

With this new influx of students, Aranda says the school district needs more funding.

Wisconsin currently sits on a $3 billion budget surplus.

MIGUEL ARANDA: I would understand if there's no money we have to make hard decisions.

But to know that there's a surplus it almost looks like the money's being dwindled right in front of our faces.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): But there are people in organizations who have already stepped up to act as a stopgap for the new arrivals.

KRISTINE ZABALLOS, Co-founder, Community Space, Wisconsin: Our mission is to meet the needs of the community.

KAY ROBERS, Co-founder, Community Space, Wisconsin: Whatever they are, we know that they're here because if they've never been here before, and they come in and see all these things, and we tell them that they can just have it they don't understand.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Kristine Zaballos and Kay Robers are co-founders of the Community Space in Whitewater.

Their mission is to provide everything a person might need, from bedding, to furniture to food, all for free.

KRISTINE ZABALLOS: I've had the privilege of witnessing somebody coming in, you know, maybe having their worst day and coming in and just needing some support some food, some whatever, and seeing them slowly relax and realize we're not going to ask them for any papers.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): The Community Space has been accepting donations since 2019, but has ramped up its efforts in the last two years.

KRISTINE ZABALLOS: Well, I'd certainly like to say that there has been no crisis.

Have we had to stretch and adjust?

Absolutely.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): They're open Tuesdays, Wednesday nights and Saturdays as a compliment to the local food pantry.

KAY ROBERS: I can stand up in the middle of the room and say, is there anyone here that's bilingual?

And inevitably, I'll get a nine year old child, which is awesome.

You know, and I always say to the child, you know, isn't your mother proud of you tell her you did a really good job and we're proud of you.

KRISTINE ZABALLOS: We like to think that half of what we do is what we share and give away and half of what we do is how we make people feel.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Beyond food and shelter.

migrants face a number of challenges when they first get here, finding a job, speaking a new language and driving are top of mind.

Jorge Islas-Martinez, an advocate and a first generation immigrant from Mexico says undocumented migrants are not allowed to obtain a driver's license in Wisconsin.

JORGE ISLAS-MARTINEZ, Immigrant Advocate: We don't have public transportation.

The only transportation that we have is taxi.

The taxi one only is available here at Whitewater from 7:30 in the morning until five o'clock.

DAN MEYER, Whitewater Police Chief: I see it as a huge safety issue.

I mean, we're if we're having people especially driving in snow for the first time, that is not a good situation.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Dan Meyer is the chief of police and Whitewater.

DAN MEYER: If somebody is able to come here and take all of the testing, the written test, physically do the driving test, so that they are safer as a driver.

I'm all for that.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Nearly 20 states allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license.

DAN MEYER: I think the underlying theory here is that we, you know, we know we need resources for us in law enforcement.

This is a political, we simply need more staffing.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Meyer says that over the last two years, his department's work has gotten much more difficult and time consuming.

DAN MEYER: One of the things that has been difficult for us as law enforcement is just working with a population that generally speaking is not trusting of government because they come from a place where they don't trust their government.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): To try and get some help for the city, Meyer and city officials sent a letter to state and federal officials in December.

DAN MEYER: When we need more officers so that we can get out in patrol at the level that the community is used to having us out there.

NATHAN DENZIN: But the letter requested more than just a boost in law enforcement funding.

BRIENNE BROWN, Whitewater Common Council: This is a situation where we are a poor town that has limited resources and not enough shared revenue from the state.

And we would like to help people make sure that they're getting jobs, you know, shelter, food, all those things.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Brienne Brown is a member of the Whitewater Common Council.

BRIENNE BROWN: The real problem is not that there are people here it's just that the city is not prepared.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): Meyer and Brown say they have heard from local officials who seem willing to help.

In January, Senator Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat wrote a letter to President Biden.

She called for federal support for cities in Wisconsin including Whitewater to help with the influx of migrants.

During a visit to Whitewater November, Republican Senator Ron Johnson blamed what he called a flood of migrants on the Biden administration.

Immigrant advocates worried the new arrivals will become political scapegoats.

They want to see these new neighbors welcome to their close community.

KRISTINE ZABALLOS: It's really contributing to the vitality of our community.

It is where we see the future.

NATHAN DENZIN (voice-over): For PBS News Weekend, I'm Nathan Denzin in Whitewater, Wisconsin.