Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot slammed Gov. Greg Abbott after buses of migrants from the southern border state of Texas pulled into the Illinois city late Wednesday.
“As a city, we are doing everything we can to ensure these immigrants and their families can receive shelter, food, and most importantly protection,” a spokesperson for Lightfoot, a Democrat, said in a statement issued Wednesday evening. “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.”
Two buses of roughly 60 migrants stepped off state-funded buses at Chicago’s Union Station last night and were transported to local shelters. Chicago is the third city that Texas has begun transporting migrants to from the border, after Washington, D.C., and New York City. All three cities self-identify as “sanctuary” zones, areas that will not turn over illegal immigrants to Immigration and Customs Enforcement if arrested.
El Paso, Texas, a city whose mayor and congresswoman are Democrats, announced last month that it would also begin busing migrants across the country to alleviate pressure on local resources. The move puts Democrats in a difficult place, given that politicians such as Lightfoot are implying Abbott (a Texas Republican) is “racist” for busing migrants while other Democrats follow his example. The Biden administration is reimbursing El Paso for all expenses.
Migrants who illegally go across the U.S.-Mexico border are more likely to be released into the United States than expelled despite the federal government continuing to operate under pandemic public health protocols that allow for the immediate expulsion of migrants.
FIRE DEPARTMENT IN TEXAS BORDER COUNTY RECOVERING BODIES OF MIGRANTS EVERY DAY
Migrants are taken into Border Patrol custody, and those who are released from federal custody are given documents stating that they must appear in immigration court to see if they will be removed, though these procedures take five to eight years due to the nearly 2 million cases already pending before the courts.
Migrants are permitted to stay in the U.S. and travel anywhere nationwide. The large majority have friends or family who will cover their transportation costs from the border. Nonprofit organizations such as Catholic Charities help migrants make travel plans upon release and sometimes pay for airline or bus tickets.
Texas has seen the majority of illegal immigrant apprehensions nationwide since President Joe Biden took office. That also means it is the most seriously affected state as more migrants are released into border communities than any other state on the border. Small towns such as Eagle Pass, a remote border town of 30,000 residents, have struggled to accommodate the 500-1,000 people released onto the streets each day.
Abbott in April said the state’s emergency management office would provide buses in border towns for transporting migrants to Washington. The move was both political and aimed at Biden, but it also solved a logistical problem, given that towns such as Eagle Pass have but one small nonprofit group helping migrants and Greyhound buses going to and from San Antonio cannot keep up with the demand. Migrants sign a waiver before boarding, confirming that they are requesting transportation to that specific city.
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Abbott expanded the busing destinations to include New York City, and Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) later began busing migrants from Yuma, Arizona, to Washington.
Washington unsuccessfully requested federal troops be sent in to help with the fewer than 100 migrants being dropped off daily. It has since asked Congress for $50 million to fund its reception efforts.
