On Wednesday, Aug. 31, a press release from Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced the arrival of a bus carrying over 75 migrants in Chicago. Bussed from Texas, this continues the governor’s plan of busing migrants from Texas to Democratic-run cities. Prior to Chicago, Abbott had also ordered buses to Washington D.C. and New York City. 

Abbott is in a political conflict with President Joe Biden and his administration over immigration policies. Many more migrants are making their way through the southern U.S. border more than under the Trump Administration. As a result, the Republican governor has bussed migrants to Democratic cities as a form of protest to the President’s current stance on immigration. 

"President Biden's inaction at our southern border continues putting the lives of Texans — and Americans — at risk and is overwhelming our communities," said Abbott in the press release. "To continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns, Chicago will join fellow sanctuary cities Washington, D.C. and New York City as an additional drop-off location. Mayor Lightfoot loves to tout the responsibility of her city to welcome all regardless of legal status, and I look forward to seeing this responsibility in action as these migrants receive resources from a sanctuary city with the capacity to serve them.” 

The inception of the policy first came in April when Abbott ordered the Texas Division of Emergency Management to get buses chartered to carry migrants from Texas to D.C. It was later this past month that Abbott added New York City as a second drop-off destination. The governor's policy sees migrants being transported to sanctuary cities and according to the release from Abbott “…while providing much-needed relief to Texas' overwhelmed border communities.” 

Upon the arrival of the latest bus that carried over 75 migrants to Chicago, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot confirmed the arrival of the migrants Wednesday night. The U.S.’s third largest city welcomes them, according to Lightfoot. She held a press conference on Thursday, Sept. 1, denouncing the actions of the Texas governor, calling it, “racist and xenophobic” and that this only adds to the already tough road for the migrants.

Cook County officials, the State of Illinois, and Lightfoot will work together to help support the incoming migrants. This includes helping them connect with family elsewhere or even settle in Chicago. 

According to Lightfoot, many of them are Venezuelans.

“The governor’s actions are not just inhumane; they are unpatriotic — This cannot be who we are as Americans. We have to stand for a different and better set of principles,” said Lightfoot. “If we are going to be a leader in the world, on an international stage and even here at home, we must reject these policies and practices.” 

Other Democratic leaders have come out against Abbott, such as Illinois Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker who in a tweet wrote: “My great grandfather came to this country as an immigrant fleeing Ukraine in 1881. Immigrants just like my family seeking freedom and opportunity built this country.”

Abbott also suggested in his statement that this is only the first group of migrants to be bussed to Chicago with more expected to come.