Texas sent a plane with more than 120 migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to Chicago in an escalation of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s busing operation that has given more than 80,000 migrants free rides to Democratic-led cities across the country since last year.
Quick Read
- Texas Migrant Flight to Chicago: Texas Governor Greg Abbott escalated his busing operation by sending a plane with over 120 migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to Chicago.
- Response to Chicago’s New Actions: The flight follows new measures by Chicago’s city council against the busloads of migrants, which included potential penalties for bus operators.
- Abbott’s Criticism of Biden’s Policies: Abbott’s action is part of his criticism of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, with Texas taking aggressive measures like allowing police to arrest migrants crossing the border illegally.
- White House Condemns the Flight: The White House criticized the flight, accusing Governor Abbott of using migrants for political purposes and disrespecting human beings.
- Operation Lone Star’s Impact: Over 23,000 migrants have been transported to Chicago as part of Operation Lone Star, which also includes security measures like razor wire and buoy barriers along the border.
- Legal Challenge Against Wire Cutting: A federal appeals court ordered a temporary halt to the Biden administration’s cutting of concertina wire on the border.
- Chicago’s Response and Migrant Conditions: Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s office has not yet commented on the flights. Concerns are raised about the conditions and care of asylum-seekers in Chicago, especially following the death of a young boy at a temporary migrant shelter.
The Associated Press has the story:
Texas begins flying migrants from S. border to Chicago. 1st plane carried over 120 people
Newslooks- AUSTIN, Texas (AP)
Texas sent a plane with more than 120 migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border to Chicago in an escalation of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s busing operation that has given more than 80,000 migrants free rides to Democratic-led cities across the country since last year.
The first flight, which Abbott’s office said left from El Paso and arrived Tuesday, was arranged a week after Chicago’s city council took new action over the busloads of migrants that have drawn sharp criticism from Mayor Brandon Johnson. The city has said bus operators began trying to drop off people in neighboring cities to avoid penalties that include fines, towing or impoundment.
Bus operators could now face tougher penalties in Chicago for not unloading new arrivals at a designated location or failing to fill out city paperwork. Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said Wednesday that the flights were the result of Johnson “targeting migrant buses” from Texas.
The flight took off a day after Abbott signed a new law this week that would allow police in Texas to arrest migrants who illegally cross the border, ratcheting up a series of aggressive measures the state has taken in protest of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies.
“Until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue taking historic action to help our local partners respond to this Biden-made crisis,” Mahaleris said.
The White House criticized the flight and accused Abbott of using migrants for politics.
“Yet again, Governor Abbott is showing how little regard or respect he has for human beings,” White House spokesperson Angelo Fernández Hernández said in a statement. “This latest political stunt just adds to his tally of extreme policies which seek to demonize and dehumanize people.”
More than 23,000 migrants have been sent to Chicago on buses as part of Abbott’s border mission known as Operation Lone Star, according to the governor’s office.
The multibillion-dollar operation has also included stringing razor wire along the frontier, installing buoy barriers in the Rio Grande and deploying more officers. On Tuesday a federal appeals court ordered the Biden administration to temporarily halt cutting the concertina wire on the border while a legal challenge plays out.
Johnson’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the flights to his city.
Concerns have arisen about the living conditions and medical care provided for asylum-seekers arriving in Chicago, spotlighted by the death last weekend of a 5-year-old boy living at a temporary shelter for migrants.
