Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) has called on Texas Governor Greg Abbott to cease the practice of busing immigrants to her city, citing a lack of resources and capacity for further individuals. In a letter addressed to the governor, Lightfoot accused Texas officials of neglecting migrants' needs by placing the responsibility onto other cities such as Chicago.
"We have reached our limit in terms of shelters, spaces, and resources available," said Lightfoot in her statement. "We understand that your state is set to resume bussing individuals and families from Monday onwards; however, we implore you to reconsider this decision."
Governor Abbott has allocated millions of dollars towards transporting undocumented migrants via charter buses as a form of protest against President Biden's border policies. The strategy has been met with criticism from mayors across Democratic-led cities who are now requesting federal assistance in addressing this issue.
In defense of his approach, Abbott argued that sending several thousand people per city pales in comparison to what local communities under his jurisdiction have faced since President Biden shifted immigration policies away from those implemented during former President Donald Trump's term.
The mayors of Washington D.C., New York City, and others have joined forces with Mayor Lightfoot in demanding additional support from the federal government over this matter. Despite these calls for action, representatives for Governor Abbott have not yet responded directly or provided any comment on their stance moving forward.
As tensions continue between state leaders regarding immigration policy responsibilities and allocation strategies amid ongoing national debates around border control measures – it remains unclear how both sides will come together toward an effective solution benefiting all parties involved.