$124 million has been used by the state of Texas to ship migrants off to various cities via the voluntary bus scheme.
Sanctuary Cities Targeted
Governor Gregg Abbott is targeting sanctuary cities, including Washington D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles.
100,000 Migrants Sent Away
According to reports, over 100,000 migrants have been sent so far on buses, but critics argue it’s inhumane to send migrants to cities where they won’t settle.
“Cruelty” in the Program
Laura Peña, Director of Beyond Borders at the Texas Civil Rights Project, argued that “The cruelty in the busing program lies in the removal of human agency for the migrants themselves.”
Taking Migrants for Fools
“It is extremely cruel to fool people with a free ride that takes them to a place where they actually will not be able to settle down,” Peña continued.
Donations to Supplement Costs
Governor Abbott called for donations and set up a fundraiser for donors, which had already raised $460,196 by December last year.
Program Funding and Expenses
Funds have been taken from “Operation Lone Star,” aiming to secure the border by using Taxpayers’ money.
Taxpayers Fund Bus Scheme
Migrants are bused voluntarily at no cost, with Texas taxpayers funding approximately 99.6% of the total cost of the bus scheme so far.
Generosity or Political Move?
Some supporters of the scheme call the bus tickets a generous offer from the Texas Governor, but critics argue it’s a political move to score points.
Abbott’s Free Ride
“Abbott is one of the only state actors that is giving immigrants a free benefit, a free ride,” said Abel Nuñez, executive director of the Central American Resource Center.
Sanctuary Cities Overflowing
Critics include the Governors of sanctuary cities like New York and Denver, who argue that Abbott’s move is straining their cities’ resources.
New York’s Commitment
New York Mayor Eric Adams stressed, “New York City has and will always do our part to manage this humanitarian crisis.”
Political Ploy Criticized
Despite his good intentions, Adams said, “we cannot bear the costs of reckless political ploys from the state of Texas alone.”
Using Migrants as “Political Pawns”
“Gov. Abbott’s continued use of migrants as political pawns is not only chaotic and inhumane but makes clear he puts politics over people,” Adams continued.
New York Sues Bus Companies
The city of New York is suing 17 transport companies for a combined total of $708 million, accusing them of flooding the city with thousands of migrants.
A Warning to States
“Today’s lawsuit should serve as a warning to all those who break the law in this way,” Adams warned.
“Evil” Governor Abbott
The lawsuit speaks of the “evil intentions” of Governor Abbott and the bus companies to shift the costs of thousands of migrants onto the city of New York.
Lack of Detailed Passenger Costs
Cost details per passenger are unavailable as migrants do not pay for their transportation.
Denver’s Removal of Migrants
Denver is another sanctuary city seeking retribution, as it runs out of resources to help migrants, resulting in their removal from shelters during the winter months.
Denver’s Free Bus Scheme
Denver has started providing free bus tickets for migrants so that they can have a better chance of finding shelter, buying over 2000 tickets from transport companies in January alone.
Straining Annual Budget of Denver
“This influx of migrants is straining capacity, and based on current projections, could force the city to cut as much as $180 million from its annual budget,” the city said in a statement.
More Divide in U.S.
The actions of Governor Abbott in Texas are affecting cities across the U.S. that have begun hitting back due to rising costs, sparking even more division in the country ahead of the General Elections.
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