Chicago Mayor Lightfoot welcomes illegal immigrants from Texas: 'We'll rent the buses next time'

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Thursday extended an additional welcome to illegal immigrants being bussed to her city from Texas, doubling down on earlier statements that indicated strong support for the migrants being sent there by Texas officials. 

"I’m happy to take and drain Texas of all of its residents," Lightfoot said of the migrants at a press conference. "I wouldn’t want to live in a state with a governor like that."

"And we’ll rent the buses next time to bring ‘em here," she added, referring to the busses commissioned by Texas state officials to drive the illegal immigrants to Chicago. 

Lightfoot had earlier claimed that the illegal immigrant bussing program commissioned by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was "a stain on the nation."

"This absolutely can not continue. We’ve got to rally together at this time, help these people that are in need. We shouldn’t be in this situation where families are thrown on buses," she argued.

Nevertheless, the mayor suggested that Chicago was poised to take care of any illegal immigrants that get sent from Texas.

“We will make sure that none of these folks will be left in the lurch,” she said.