Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that he has bused illegal immigrants to Chicago, expanding the state’s operation of transferring immigrants released at the border.
Chicago becomes the third Democrat-run city to receive migrants from Texas, the other two being New York City and Washington, D.C.
“The migrants were dropped off at Union Station,” read a statement tweeted Wednesday evening by Abbott. “In addition to Washington, D.C., and New York City, Chicago will now be a drop-off location for the busing strategy as part of the governor’s response to President [Joe] Biden’s open border policies overwhelming border communities in Texas.”
“President Biden’s inaction at our southern border continues putting the lives of Texans – and Americans – at risk and is overwhelming our communities,” the statement continued. “To continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns, Chicago will join fellow sanctuary cities Washington, D.C., and New York City as an additional drop-off location.”
The Republican governor also took a jab at Chicago Mayor Lori Lighfoot, saying that he looks forward to seeing Lightfoot welcome the migrants.
“Mayor [Lori] Lightfoot loves to tout the responsibility of her city to welcome all regardless of legal status, and I look forward to seeing this responsibility in action as these migrants receive resources from a sanctuary city and with the capacity to serve them,” the statement added.
In response, Lightfoot’s spokesperson Ryan Johnson blasted Abbott in a statement, saying: “Unfortunately, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is without any shame or humanity. But ever since he put these racist practices of expulsion in place, we have been working with our community partners to ready the city to receive these individuals.”
Earlier this year, Abbott announced that Texas would be sending illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C. by bus and plane in response to the Biden administration lifting “Title 42,” a controversial policy implemented by former President Donald Trump back in March 2020 that allowed the U.S. Border Patrol to turn migrants away.
He also said recently that he has no plans to halt the buses from transporting illegal immigrants to Democratic cities.
“The Biden Administration’s failure to address the humanitarian crisis along our southern border is reckless,” Abbott tweeted. “Until President Biden does his job & secures the border, Texas will keep sending migrants to D.C. & NYC.”
