Texas, Chicago Clash Over Migrant Crisis as Abbott Vows To Keep on Busing Migrants Despite Shelter Shortage

Chicago Mayo and Texas Governor clash over migrant crisis
Gov. Greg Abbott vows to continue busing migrants in Chicago
Chicago faces a severe lack of shelter, space, and resources

Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Texas Governor Greg Abbott clash on Twitter in response to the news that Texas will once again transport migrants to sanctuary cities, including Chicago.

Despite her pleading, Texas Governor Greg Abbott informed Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday that he would continue sending migrants to her city.

Abbott Continues Sending Migrants to 'Sanctuary Cities'

In a letter sent on Sunday, Lightfoot, a Democrat, complained that the city lacks the resources to keep up with the influx of people. Until shelter is available, some of them are being held in public areas such as police stations, as per NBC News.

Abbott told Lightfoot in a response letter on Monday to take her complaint to President Joe Biden, placing the blame for an ongoing border crisis on his shoulders.

According to Fox32, Lightfoot responded on Monday evening via Twitter that Abbott "continues to race to the bottom to score political points with no regard for the human lives involved or the consequences." She continued, "Shameful, but sadly expected."

Lightfoot visited the White House and explicitly raised the need for federal funding to facilitate an influx of migrants into Chicago, according to a source familiar with the conversation.

This individual added that Lightfoot spoke with Julie Chávez Rodriguez, director of the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, who was recently appointed as Biden's re-election campaign manager.

In a recent letter exchange, Abbott and Lightfoot concurred that the May 11 expiration of Title 42, a COVID-19 ban on migrants, will only exacerbate an already unmanageable influx of migrants.

The dust-up is just one way in which the end of COVID-era rule is anticipated to impact not only border communities but also cities in the center of the nation. frontier officials have already warned of a record-breaking influx of individuals crossing the frontier. Abbott is among the leaders who have sent border migrants to other cities, arguing that so-called sanctuary cities must address the plight of border communities.

Lightfoot argued that federal funds migrate into states such as Texas to mitigate the economic impact of immigration but do not follow those bused or flown to Chicago.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, city leaders of Chicago stated at a joint City Council committee meeting on Friday that they face a $53 million deficiency to manage the incoming migrants and have not received federal assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

US Migrant Crisis

Abbott has stated that his decision to transport migrants to Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York City is a direct response to President Joe Biden's "open border policies" that, according to him, have inundated his state's border communities.

The cities he targeted with these migrant depots have identified themselves as "sanctuary cities," which will accept refugees regardless of their legal status.

Chicago has stated that it will not inquire about an individual's immigration status, disclose that information to authorities, or deny city services based on immigration status. Abbott has declared sanctuary cities illegal in his state, claiming that they promote lawlessness.

Federal officials have acknowledged that a record number of migrants have arrived at the US-Texas border as the western hemisphere experiences "the greatest displacement of people since World War II."