Move FM Global News

LOS ANGELES, California: Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced last week that an initial group of migrants, who were bused from Texas, had reached the city of Los Angeles. This action is the latest maneuver by Republicans who oppose the immigration policies of Democratic President Joe Biden.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, expressed her disapproval of the bus trip, stating that over 40 migrants had arrived in the city. She described it as “a despicable stunt that Republican Governors have grown so fond of.”

Since 2022, Texas has transported more than 21,000 migrants to various cities, including Washington, New York City, and Chicago, leading some critics to label it as a political ploy amid the ongoing national debate on the influx of illegal immigrants along the southern border.

In recent weeks, two flights carrying migrants landed in Sacramento, the capital of California, while state authorities investigated the involvement of Florida in transporting them from Texas through New Mexico, according to the California attorney general’s office.

Abbott released a statement emphasizing that the small border towns in Texas continue to be overwhelmed by the influx of thousands of people crossing into the state illegally from Mexico. He blamed President Biden for failing to secure the border. He also pointed out that Los Angeles, being a major city, is a sought-after destination for migrants, especially now that its city leaders have declared it a sanctuary city.

Sanctuary cities adopt policies aimed at fostering trust between local authorities and migrants, regardless of their immigration status. These policies also limit cooperation with federal authorities regarding the enforcement of immigration laws.

On June 9, the Los Angeles City Council passed a motion to draft legislation that would make the city a “true sanctuary city.” Council member Eunisses Hernandez, one of the proponents, shared the news on Twitter.

Mayor Bass clarified that the city was aware of the bus trip in advance, allowing officials to mobilize the necessary resources, including police, fire departments, and non-profit partners, to be prepared for the arrival of the bus.