Dem Leaders Criticize Texas for Busing Migrants to Chicago (Oh Darn…)
A large group of migrants arrived at Chicago’s Union Station last week after having been sent there by bus from Texas. Their arrival is Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s (R) latest attempt to draw Democrats’ attention to the ongoing crisis at the southern border.
“President Biden’s inaction at our southern border continues putting the lives of Texans – and Americans – at risk and is overwhelming our communities,” argues Abbott, adding that the “busing mission” has provided “much-needed relief” to overrun border communities.
With no resources left to spare, Abbott began sending migrants to “sanctuary cities” in April. According to CNN, the state has spent upwards of $12 million on transportation to send as many as 9,000 migrants to cities that claim to have the resources to care for them (transportation within the US is typically something migrants are forced to pay for as their asylum cases are processed). Governor Abbott’s requests for financial assistance in this endeavor have resulted in a measly $167,828.
After finding it more difficult than expected to provide services to migrants arriving from Texas, Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) has appealed twice to the National Guard for assistance. Both of her requests were ignored.
Authorities in New York City are also finding it difficult to assist new arrivals from Texas during a time in which legal residents are struggling to afford groceries and rent.
A spokesperson for New York City Mayor Eric Adams called Abbott a “hypocrite” for claiming to love the United States while sending migrants out of Texas, though I find the real hypocrisy here lies with Democrats who: 1) Proclaim to support illegals but don’t want them inside their own cities, 2) Claim to be patriots while prioritizing the welfare of illegals over that of citizens, or 3) Both.
“Adams talked the talk about being a sanctuary city, welcoming illegal immigrants into the Big Apple with warm hospitality,” wrote Abbott in a scathing essay picked up by the New York Post. “Talk is cheap. When pressed into fulfilling such ill-considered policies, he wants to condemn anyone who is pressing him to walk the walk.”
Abbott added that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot “loves to tout the responsibility of her city to welcome all regardless of legal status” and said he “look[s] forward to seeing this responsibility in action as these migrants receive resources from a sanctuary city with the capacity to serve them.”
The buses sent from Texas to Chi-Town contained between 60 and 100 people including pregnant women and up to 30 small children. Most came from Venezuela and some entered the country illegally. According to Abbott, the migrants were transported only after obtaining written permission.
A spokesman for Mayor Lightfoot’s office confirmed Chicago would welcome the migrants with “dignity and respect” and described Abbott’s actions as “horrific,” “racist,” and “without shame or humanity.” Without naming former President Donald Trump, the spokesman went on to say that “racism, discrimination, and human cruelty have played a pivotal role in how immigrants are received within our borders” and claimed Chicago was “still recovering from the previous presidential administration, which encouraged this behavior.”
Speaking from Chicago’s Humboldt Park neighborhood, where some of the migrants were taken, Mayor Lightfoot described Abbott’s actions as “immoral” and “unpatriotic” and claimed that his intentions were to “humiliate the president” and “to humiliate Democratic cities, led by Democratic mayors.”
Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey, a Republican, had a much different response:
“The crisis at the border has a terrible human cost and we in Illinois are about to get a close up look. No city or state has the resources to handle this. [Illinois Governor JB] Pritzker should get his buddy Biden to fix the border. Biden also owes us the resources to vet and take care of these people.”
Chicago has been preparing for weeks to receive migrants from Texas, though no official notice was provided by Abbott’s office. The Illinois Department of Human Services and Emergency Management Agency learned about the incoming buses from a regional FEMA office. As a sanctuary city, Chicago will be forced to provide services to these individuals regardless of immigration status including food, clothing, temporary housing, medical assistance, and legal advice. The city’s police are not required to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
Sources:
Texas sends buses of migrants to Chicago for first time, dropped off at train station
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sends bus of migrants to Chicago
‘Our city is prepared’: Chicago welcomes Texas migrants after Gov. Abbott sends busloads of people
Good for Abbott. I said a two years and again one year ago that Abbott should have been doing this all along. They should be transported to all big Democratic cities that ignore the crisis and brag about their willingness to accept illegals and care for them Abbott is now making them walk the walk! Great! Now bus some to Boston, Wilmington Delaware so Biden can entertain them in his backyard, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco so Pelosi can entertain them, Seattle, more for Chicago, Minneapolis, Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee, and even Las Vegas!!!! I think if all of these sanctuary cities ban together to help those poor illegals they can help Texas greatly!!! As an Independent voter I am all for Abbott’s approach!
Sanctuary Cities began around 40 years ago, started by Church Groups shocked about the US denial of asylum status.
At their core, these cities refuse to use their funds to support Federal immigration laws except for violent felons. Sort of the reverse of Abbot using State funds to move a Federal problem.
While these cities don’t exactly support illegals, they don’t help the Feds deport either and tell illegals that so that they don’t fear and will work with local police, for example. It seems to work.
If Abbot feels this is a good use of funds; I don’t see where these cities can bitch, unless they bitch to the Fed saying basically what Abbot is saying; fix this! But if this is taxpayer profitable for TX, Abbot is right. If not, he’s using taxpayer money to politic. .
It’s amazing how the Democrats get so upset when they are asked to live with the very issues that they force on the rest of the country. We need to invest in a lot of cry towels for the mayors of these Democrat cities. Personally I find it to be hilarious.
I agree, Abbott is being more understanding than I would. It would be so easy to have a group defend all the private property that they are crossing and tearing up, go to these places and lock and load, this might be the only thing they understand anyway. He is more human. I hear some one speak another language and right away they must be illegal. That is what has happened.
They are not illegal if they are seeking asylum; they are released pending court appearance.
Are you saying you are going to shoot them?
Why not?
Because that’s murder and a sin.
I would think you might have a clue at least.
Who cares, bus them to all those cities. Let them feed and house them, they wanted it this way.
I fully agree. If you talk the talk, then you better be prepared to walk the walk. If you are so much in favor of undocumented persons entering your nation, then house them in YOUR city. Don’t you DARE send them to MY city and tell me that I MUST take them in. How is that equitable?
I know it may be a harsh thing, but face the fact that the border towns where these folks come in are usually in bad straits already. How are they expected to go it alone in feeding and housing all these people who were NOT INVITED? I know it says on the Statue of Liberty to send us your poor, your weak, your huddled masses… Too much of any good thing can choke you. On the other hand I think sending them to places like New York City, Washington, San Francisco, Portland, and other such havens of liberality is perfectly logical. It’s places like these that encourage the invasion of the tens of thousands who illegally cross our southern border each month. Time for those who back the unrelenting influx of “immigrants” be asked to pay their part of the cost of inviting them in. If they don’t like how much it costs, then do something about it. Realize that if it’s to be equitable, everyone ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SUPPORT THE UNIMPEDED FLOOD OF “REFUGEES” should have to share the load. My own opinion is that the Dems really want all these new people to vote for them. That’s why they don’t try to stop it. Now, prove me wrong!
I can understand how haters gotta hate, but ignorance is bliss. You are very blissful people.
Sanctuary Cities began around 40 years ago, started by Church Groups shocked about the US denial of asylum status. At their core, these cities refuse to use their funds to support Federal immigration laws except for violent felons. Sort of the reverse of Abbot using State funds to move a Federal problem. While these cities don’t exactly support illegals, they don’t help the Feds deport either and tell illegals that so that they don’t fear and will work with local police, for example. It seems to work. That’s the truth about Sanctuary Cities: started by Churches. Refuse to use local tax funds to support Federal deportation efforts except for violent criminals. Seek to build trust with immigrants and local police to reduce crime. It seems to work.
But these folks are legal to go to whatever US city they want. They are invited, we adhere to international law in this regard. They will not vote, if at all, for years, and certainly Abbot will have a fond spot in their hearts for helping them so much.
Abbot is NOT busing illegals. He is busing partially adjudicated LEGAL asylum seekers awaiting their court date. They are volunteers. Most turn up for the court date, most who do not have issues getting the court notice. There is nothing illegal about Abbot offering them a ride on the TX taxpayers wallet. However, he may be spending money to lose money if these folks could support themselves.
If Abbot feels this is a good use of funds; I don’t see where these cities can bitch, unless they bitch to the Fed saying basically what Abbot is saying; fix this! But if this is taxpayer profitable for TX, Abbot is right. If not, he’s using taxpayer money to politic. As of 9/7, Abbot has spent $14M so far for 8,000 asylum seekers or about $1,700 a bus ride —- someone pocketing some cool change for that bus ticket.
Again, these are legal asylum seekers that Abbot is spending $1,700 a piece to send to cities that will not use their taxpayer funds to help the fed’s deport, unless violent criminals. The cities should not protest, except for the surprise, but Texans may want to consider their options for how Abbot spends their tax dollars. Or consider another governor. Until then, sure, hate asylum seekers, it’s your right. I think God has a special spot for those who hate those who flee from terrible conditions under threat of violence if they remain. But you gotta do what you gotta do. Me, I’m donating to Amnesty International this weekend. You can donate to Bannon’s build a wall even though the Don tells us the wall is completed already under his watch as your 45th, 46th, and soon to be 47th President of the United States of Crazy. Of course, they just tossed his suit against Hillary, the DNC, and Russia out of court. And another Trump court case bites the dust. Judge said: “inadequate in nearly every respect” and his legal claims are “unsupported by any legal authority” and go against Supreme Court precedent. Sweeeeeet.