Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced Friday that his state will now bus immigrants directly to New York City, intensifying a war of words with Mayor Eric Adams and causing difficulties for the city’s shelter system.
The governor went even further by pointing out that the first contingent of these immigrants had already arrived in New York City on Friday, which was later confirmed to be true.
“The first migrant bus has arrived in NYC,” the governor wrote in a message on social media.
“Biden refuses to do his job, which is why Texas continues to take unprecedented steps to secure our border.
‘NYC is the ideal destination for these migrants.
“You can receive the services that Mayor Adams has boasted about in the sanctuary city,” the message continues.
The 1st bus of migrants has arrived in NYC.
Biden refuses to do his job, so Texas continues to take unprecedented action to secure our border.
NYC is the ideal destination for these migrants.
They can receive the services Mayor Adams has boasted about w/in the sanctuary city. pic.twitter.com/4sw41RqKdx
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) August 5, 2022
“Due to President Biden’s continued refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies, the State of Texas has had to take unprecedented steps to keep our communities safe,” Abbott said in a statement expanding the announcement. of sending immigrants.
“In addition to Washington, DC, New York City is the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted within the sanctuary city. I hope he keeps his promise to welcome all migrants with open arms so our overwhelmed and overwhelmed border cities can find relief.”
In fact, on Friday morning, the first bus sent by the governor of Texas with unauthorized immigrants arrived in the city – at the Port Authority Terminal.
In recent weeks, Texas has sent more than 6,000 unauthorized immigrants to the nation’s capital, some of whom have later traveled to New York.
Mayor Adams has criticized what the Texas governor has done but at the same time has promised to provide humanitarian attention to the immigrants who arrive. The mayor turned down an invitation from the Texas governor to visit the border.
Later, the mayor’s press office released a message in response to what was said and done by the governor of Texas.
“Governor Abbott finally admits what we have known he has been doing all along. His continued use of human beings as political pawns is disgusting, and a shameful stain on the state of Texas,” the statement said.
“New York will continue to welcome asylum seekers with open arms, as we always have, but we ask for resources to be able to do so. We need Washington DC’s help to stand up to the cruel political games being played by inept politicians like the Governor of Texas.”
Some of the immigrants who have arrived in the city in the previous weeks have had difficulty being integrated into the shelter service and ended up sleeping on the streets. Several of these families are of Venezuelan origin.
These Venezuelans have been showing up daily at the offices of Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York for help. “Her main concern has been having a place to stay and food for her children,” Maryann Tharappel, who directs the organization’s immigrant and refugee services, was quoted as saying by the New York Times.
“New York’s infrastructure is not built for this,” he said. “We are not at the border.”
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