Texas Governor Greg Abbott is gaining notoriety, that he does or does not need depending on your viewpoint, for transporting migrants out of Texas and to “sanctuary cities.” He started in Washington, DC, where thousands were bused, continued in NYC, where a migrant receiving center and hotel accommodations have been set up in midtown Manhattan, and now he’s setting his sights on expelling his border problem to Chicago.
A busload of undocumented migrants from the Southern border at Del Rio, Texas arrived in Chicago on Wednesday night, August 31.
“To continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns, Chicago will join fellow sanctuary cities Washington, DC, and New York City as an additional drop-off location,” said Abbott.
The Texas Governor, no stranger to controversy, said that the Chicago mayor, Lori Lightfoot, talks about how all are welcome, so he’s giving her a chance to take responsibility for her words.
Abbott has already spent $12 million to kick the newcomers out of his state. Some of that is taxpayer money and some is private donations. It costs about $1,300 per immigrant.
The immigrants are not illegal. They are people who are seeking asylum in the US and have been given legal permission to stay in the country while they go through the asylum process.
Abbott says they don’t have to stay in Texas to do that.
Although the governor says that the immigrants are “voluntarily” traveling to other cities, some people say they are being tricked. Some have families or friends in the destination localities. Some don’t. Many get off the bus and have no idea what to do upon arrival. Organizations and government services in DC and NYC are helping them.
Abbott says they can get off the bus wherever they want.
It was reported, and documented, that some immigrants traveling to NYC wanted to get off in Tennessee and weren’t allowed to. 9-1-1 was called and the travelers told police that they were being “held against their will,” according to the 9-1-1 recording obtained by the New York Post.
Chicago Mayor Lightfoot responded via a spokesperson,”Chicago is and will continue to be a welcoming city. We are collaborating across various City departments and with local, state and community partners to ensure everyone who arrives in Chicago is greeted and treated with dignity and respect.”
More than 8,000 people have been bused out of Texas on “Operation Lonestar.”