Texas Gov. Abbott now sending migrants to Chicago, buses already arriving

Texas GOP Gov. Greg Abbott is expanding his program to bus migrants to liberal-leaning cities — an attempt to relieve his border state from the burden of care for the immigrants and to make the political statement that dealing with record immigration through Mexico is a nationwide concern. 

At least 60 migrants have arrived so far this week in Chicago.

Abbott, who has already sent busloads of migrants to New York City and Washington, D.C., cited Democrat Mayor Lori Lightfoot's touting of Chicago as a sanctuary city with the acknowledged responsibility and resources to serve new arrivals regardless of legal status as reason to send migrants to her city.

The move will "continue providing much-needed relief to our small, overrun border towns," said Abbott.

Lightfoot spokesman Ryan Johnson on Wednesday said, "As a city, we are doing everything we can to ensure these immigrants and their families can receive shelter, food, and most importantly protection."

Chicago has also vowed to not work with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.

Johnson said Abbott is acting "without any shame or humanity" for putting "racist practices of expulsion in place."

He said Chicago helps hundreds of migrants each year and the city is "still working to recover" from the Trump administration.

Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker welcomed the migrants. He signed a bill last year that effectively ended immigrant detention in Illinois.