Texas Governor Greg Abbott defends sending migrants to New York City, saying it’s Biden using illegal border crossings as ‘political pawns’
- “Our country is being invaded in ways that endanger our country because of the political games that Joe Biden has played,” Abbott said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has no regrets about sending illegal immigrants to New York City, insisting on Sunday that it is President Biden who is using them as “political pawns.”
“So the person who is actually using illegal immigrants as political pawns is Joe Biden,” Abbott said.
“Biden created this open borders policy that has allowed illegal immigrants in our country to appeal to the far left in the Democratic party,” the Republican added.
Abbott continued his feud with New York Mayor Eric Adams, who offered him a free stay at a migrant shelter during his trip to the Big Apple to headline the Republican Party of New York’s annual gala.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has no regrets about sending illegal immigrants to New York City, insisting on Sunday that it is President Biden who is using them as ‘political pawns’
On Sunday, Abbott responded by calling Adams’ invitation a “gimmick” and said he needed to focus on his own city.
The governor also emphasized that President Joe Biden’s policies forced him to bus migrants to New York and other sanctuary cities.
“Our country is being invaded in a way that puts our country at risk because of the political games that Joe Biden has played,” Abbott told host Martha MacCallum on Fox News on Sunday.
“And Mayor Adams only adds to that by having sanctuary city status… welcoming everyone from all over the world to live and stay there, on New York’s bill.”
“What Mayor Adams needs to do is stop talking brazenly about immigration and the migrants Texas is sending there and do his own job.”
Abbott transports migrants from the Texas border to liberal-run cities like New York and Chicago. The latest numbers released by Texas officials in March show that the state has now transported more than 105,000 migrants since 2022, including 39,000 who were bused to New York.
“I am going to offer him a stay in one of the (Humanitarian Emergency and Relief Centers) so that he can see what he has created and understand how we treat people with the dignity and respect that he should have shown” He said Mayor Eric Adams Thursday.
Adams has called Abbott “morally bankrupt” and a “madman” for his busing policies.
In 2023, New York City took in approximately 175,000 migrants and spent $1.45 billion to feed and house them.
Dozens of migrant/immigrant families arrive at the Port Authority Bus Terminal from Texas
A bus carrying migrants from Texas arrives at the Port Authority bus station in New York, United States
The city has warned there is “no end in sight” to the crisis and expects to spend $12 billion on migrants by the 2025 budget year.
Migrants arriving in New York City have been issued prepaid debit cards that appear to offer twice as much to spend on essentials as other social services in New York.
An average family of four participating in the SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – receives $713 from the program. New York’s pilot card program for migrants offers $1,400 every four weeks.