Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Sends ‘First Bus’ of Migrants to California in Latest Salvo From Immigration War

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent migrants to Los Angeles on Wednesday, the latest red-state governor to antagonize progressive California on immigration.

Abbott's decision expands a program that has brought thousands of migrants to Vice President Kamala Harris' Washington home, Denver, Chicago, and Philadelphia to draw attention to US border policies.

Greg Abbott Defends Busing Migrants

The Texas governor's move comes days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' administration moved asylum-seekers from Texas to Sacramento, causing California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Attorney General Rob Bonta to criticize and threaten criminal prosecution.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass said first responders and organizations were informed about the arrival of more than 40 migrants. According to Politico, Republicans claim they are responding to rising migration, while Democrats accuse them of using asylum-seekers for political gain.

DeSantis and Abbott claim border communities are overrun by migrants to justify their migrant relocation initiatives. They also mocked blue states that expanded services and safeguards.

Wednesday marked the third time in less than two weeks that a group of Latin American asylum seekers was abruptly sent to California, the latest episode in a months-long political protest by the governors of Florida and Texas against Democratic immigration policies.

Authorities in California and Los Angeles confirmed that the bus arrived at Union Station from McAllen, Texas, around 4 p.m., and that the migrants, who had traveled for two days, were provided with shelter and legal assistance.

Abbott stated that his state had sent them into neighboring states because "small Texas border communities remain overwhelmed" and President Biden "refuses to secure the border."

In a jab at a California law and a new Los Angeles ordinance that limits the use of local resources in federal immigration enforcement, Abbott added that Los Angeles "is a significant destination for migrants, especially now that its city leaders have declared it a sanctuary city."

Per NY Times, it was not immediately obvious on Wednesday whether the migrants had consented to travel to California or what they had been told about the journey west. After a migrant voyage sponsored by Florida this month, California Governor Gavin Newsom suggested that DeSantis could be charged with abduction, claiming that Florida contractors coerced individuals onto aircraft under false pretenses.

US Immigration War

During Abbott's transportation arrangement, a total of 21,600 migrants have been bused across the country to cities governed by the Democratic Party. This evening, the most recent group was handed off at Union Station in Los Angeles.

Los Angeles joins New York City, Washington DC, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Denver as destinations where migrants have been transported after crossing the US-Mexico border into Texas.

In April 2022, Governor Abbott ordered the Texas Division of Emergency Management to charter buses to convey Texas migrants to Washington, DC. The Governor then added New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia as drop-off locations the previous year. He added Denver as a destination last month.

Since Abbott launched the initiative to shuttle migrants out of his state, more than 21,600 individuals have been transported to "self-declared sanctuary cities," he said. The plans have provided "much-needed respite to Texas' overburdened border communities," according to Abbott.

This follows the expiration of Title 42 last month, which resulted in an influx of individuals crossing the border into the United States. The Title 42 regulations were implemented in March 2020, according to Daily Mail.

As a means of preventing the spread of COVID-19, the restrictions enabled border agents to swiftly return asylum applicants back across the frontier. US authorities have unveiled stringent new measures to replace Title 42, including a crackdown on illicit border crossings and the establishment of legal pathways for migrants who apply online, seek a sponsor, and endure background checks.

If effective, the reforms could significantly modify the manner in which migrants arrive at the US-Mexico border. Many of the tens of thousands of migrants gathered at the US-Mexico border have rarely discussed the asylum restrictions imposed during the pandemic.