Throughout Joe Biden’s presidency, illegal immigration has exploded to record highs, straining border towns and sanctuary cities around the country. Since 2022, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has made headlines for his solution to the burden of the unsecured border: busing illegal immigrants to liberal sanctuary cities nationwide.
According to recent reports, Gov. Abbott is continuing to redistribute illegal immigrants to Chicago despite a new city ordinance aimed at preventing the busing of migrants. Eight busloads were directed to the Windy City Sunday morning, while hundreds more were flown in overnight. Abbott chartered a jumbo jet from San Antonio, Texas, to Rockford, Illinois, depositing nearly 350 migrants who were then placed in buses.
The Lone Star Governor took to social media, where he highlighted the success of his busing program, shipping approximately 63,000 illegal immigrants away from border towns. “Texas began busing migrants to sanctuary cities to provide overwhelmed border towns with vital relief. Over 12,500 to DC Over 22,600 to NYC Over 18,000 to Chicago Over 3,200 to Philadelphia Over 5,700 to Denver Over 1,100 to LA,” posted Abbott on X.
Abbott also announced on X that he would begin chartering flights out of Texas to expand the migrant reallocation effort. The governor noted that Chicago has attempted to thwart his busing initiative, but he will not back down until the Biden administration competently steps up to secure the southern border.
“Sanctuary city Chicago started obstructing and targeting our busing mission. Texas will now expand our operation to include flights to Chicago. Until Biden steps up to secure the border, we will continue to provide overwhelmed Texas border towns with much-needed relief,” Abbott said.
Democrat Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson recently implemented a new city ordinance to counteract the busing program, which targets buses dropping off illegal immigrants outside of approved hours or without a permit. The ordinance grants the authority to impose fines and impound or tow these buses.
Officials in Rockford released a statement regarding Abbott’s flight, explaining that due to the new Chicago ordinance, migrants are being redirected to other localities that are not designated sanctuary cities. “As many people may know, the City of Chicago recently adopted an ordinance with certain requirements related to the arrival of migrants,” the statement reads. “As a result, the governor of Texas has redirected buses and planes to other nearby cities.”
Mayor Johnson posted on X, addressing the flight from San Antonio to Rockford. Johnson complained about the lack of communication from Gov. Abbott as Chicago and surrounding communities continue to grapple with the inflow of migrants.
This morning just after 1 a.m., a private Boeing 777 originating from San Antonio, Texas landed at the Rockford/Chicago airport carrying 350 asylum seekers. There was no communication from Texas, and the City of Chicago was alerted by authorities in Rockford regarding the flight,” Johnson posted on X.
“Upon landing, asylum seekers were placed on buses chartered by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and dropped in various surrounding suburbs, left to find their way to the city. This is the second recorded instance of the Texas governor transporting asylum seekers via private plane,” the mayor added.
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