Texas has bussed more than 7,000 migrants from Washington, D.C. and New York since April, spending nearly $13 million on the initiative through August 8, according to state data obtained through a request under freedom of information law.
Abbott, who is seeking a third term in November’s midterm elections, says the buses are needed because Democratic President Joe Biden has failed to secure the border with Mexico. The U.S. Border Patrol made a record 1.8 million migrant arrests at the southwest border from October 1, 2021 through July 31, 2022.
On Wednesday night, Mr. Abbott criticized Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, for her city’s “sanctuary” law that limits cooperation with federal immigration services.
“Mayor Lightfoot likes to tout her city’s responsibility to welcome everyone, regardless of legal status,” Abbott said in a statement. “I can’t wait to see this responsibility in action.”
After Abbott’s announcement, Ryan Johnson, spokesman for Lightfoot, confirmed on Twitter that about five dozen migrants were sent to Chicago from Texas.
“Chicago is a welcoming city and as such has worked with various departments and agencies to ensure that we welcome them with dignity and respect,” he said.
Since Abbott began the busing effort, the Democratic mayors of Washington and New York City have called for federal help. Newly arrived migrants in Washington have struggled to secure permanent housing and medical care, Reuters reported last week.
The White House said Mr Abbott’s efforts and a similar move by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, another Republican, were creating chaos and using migrants as political pawns. But last week, the Democratic-run city of El Paso, Texas, also sent a bus carrying migrants to New York and planned to send one to Chicago, according to news reports.