More than three years have passed since Texas launched Operation Lone Star, a state-run program under which Texas has implemented various measures to secure the border from the influx of migrants in recent years. The issue of illegal immigration has become a main topic in Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, which uses every single occasion to attack the likely Democratic presidential candidate, Joe Biden.
Controversial measures
Under Operation Lone Star, Texas has enforced numerous controversial measures. One of these is transporting migrants to sanctuary cities across the nation. According to a late March post on X by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Texas has transported more than 108,000 migrants to Democratic-led sanctuary cities in an effort to relieve the impact Texas southern cities feel as a result of migrants. By transporting thousands of migrants to other cities, Texas also transferred the pressure of handling the migrants to those cities.
The impact
Gov. Abbott said most of the migrants were transported to New York City—more than 40,000. But the city faces huge problems providing essential services to migrants since, according to data, it has received around 180,000 migrants since 2022, creating an overwhelming situation for local authorities. Per Fox News, it’s estimated that at least 107,000 people have been bussed in from Texas.
NYC Mayor Adams strange call to Abbott
Earlier this month, NYC Mayor Eric Adams called on Abbott for a complimentary stay at one of the city’s migrant shelters and chastised him for how he handled the situation surrounding incoming immigrants. While Abbott constantly criticizes Adams and Democrats for the nation’s migrant crisis, NYC faces a lot of challenges in handling the number of migrants, from providing proper housing to other essential services.
Read also: Migrant crisis shifts to Democratic-led California and Arizona, Texas Gov. celebrates the ‘win’
Abbott brutal response
Abbott’s response to Adams came shortly after the New York Republican Party’s annual gala that took place last week. Speaking in front of prominent Republicans, Abbott said: “The complaining by Mayor Adams is nothing short [of] stunning. What he has is a tiny fraction of what Texas gets every day,” before confirming his decision that the state will continue to transport immigrants to sanctuary cities until “until we get a new president” who focuses on securing the border. This statement was also shared on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
The initial was now always like that
Abbott claimed that his initial plan was to transport the migrants to Washington, DC, as “neither Joe Biden nor the border czar [Vice President Harris] had actually been to the border to see the chaos and cost.”
“My thought process was, if they’re not going to come to the border, we’re going to take the border to them. Quite literally out of nowhere, Eric Adams starts criticizing me for sending them to New York City. We made clear, by contacting his office, and said, ‘We’re not sending them to New York’. We issued press releases to the press saying we’re not sending migrants to New York — that’s Joe Biden sending them to New York,” Abbott added.
The Gov claimed he made the decision to transform talk into reality when Empire State officials refused to retract their assertions.
Read also: Hochul once invited migrants to New York, now she blames Trump for the illegal immigration
The backlash
Most user on X didn’t like Abbott latest comments on busing migrants to sanctuary cities.
“Stop doing this. Just deport them back to their country and dare the feds to stop you. If you can ship them to other cities in the country, ship them OUT,” @YourFavPilgrim commented.
“Abbott is literally engaging in human trafficking,” another user wrote, while @ladybaker571 commented, “Then why isn’t anyone press the charges against the governor this is illegal and there’s not that many people crossing the border they’re lying is nothing but a campaign ploy because they no longer have abortion to b**** about.”
“Conservatives are despicable. Deport them or shut up, you mewling worm,” another user wrote.
Conservatives are despicable. Deport them or shut up, you mewling worm.
— Sulla (@Inshallahyh) April 5, 2024
