Texas Sends Illegal Immigrants on a Plane After Chicago Blocks Buses

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-Texas) escalated his response to the border crisis on Tuesday, resorting to flights after Chicago impounded buses sent by Texas to drop off illegal immigrants.

This marks the first time the Lone Star State has used a plane to transport illegal immigrants out of the state to liberal sanctuary jurisdictions. The move adds a new dimension to the tension between the Republican-led state and local authorities as they grapple with the challenges posed by the influx of migrants illegally entering the country.

Andrew Mahaleris, Mr. Abbott’s spokesman, said Texas transported more than 120 migrants from El Paso to Chicago on Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Mahaleris shared news of the flight on social media, noting it was a response to Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s “failing to live up to his city’s ‘Welcoming City’ ordinance by targeting migrant buses from Texas.”

“Nearly every single day, Chicago’s mayor attacks Governor Abbott for busing migrants to his sanctuary city,” Mr. Mahaleris said in an earlier post on X. “He needs to check his campaign website, where he promises to welcome them with open arms.”

Chicago’s resistance to Texas buses has led to the city imposing fines on the state’s buses for dropping illegal immigrants off outside of designated areas and impounding at least one bus last week, reported ABC7.

“Sanctuary city Chicago started obstructing and targeting our busing mission. Texas will now expand our operation to include flights to Chicago,” Mr. Abbott wrote on X. “Until Biden steps up to secure the border, we will continue to provide overwhelmed Texas border towns with much-needed relief.”

The Texas governor’s administration has faced criticism for the initiative, accused by officials and illegal immigrant rights groups of using people as political pawns.

On Tuesday, Chicago’s mayor accused the Texas governor of “invoking chaos” around the country and said the busing program “has not centered people’s humanity.” He also claimed that people, some of whom he said were arriving sick and hungry, were being “forced on buses without knowing where they were going.”

He added that, amid the influx of illegal immigrants, Chicago is already grappling with homelessness, mental health issues, and joblessness.

“The governor of Texas needs to take a look in the mirror with the chaos he’s causing for the people of this country,” Mr. Jonhson said.

The program, which has transported 23,800 migrants to Chicago as of last week, has been defended by the governor as a means to alleviate stress on Texas border communities and as a protest against what he has said are lax border policies under President Biden.

Mr. Abbott’s spokesperson said all passengers signed voluntary waivers to board the flight to Chicago, reported WTTW. Defending the relocation program, he said in further comments on social media that Democrats in Chicago are now “waking up to the reality that open border policies are failed policies.”

The White House responded to the latest development, accusing Republican leaders in Texas and Florida, which has also flown illegal immigrants to liberal states, of engaging in “political stunts” around border security and illegal immigration.

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