Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said on Thursday, hours after New York City Mayor Eric Adams criticized the Republican response, that he would bus illegal immigrants flooding across the border to sanctuary cities “until we have a new president.” Keep sending, he told a crowd in Manhattan Thursday. Faced with a crisis, they offered him a free stay in one of the Big Apple’s immigrant shelters.
Abbott’s comments came during a keynote speech at the New York Republican Party’s annual gala, where the Lone Star state governor and other prominent Republicans spoke about the continued influx of illegal immigrants entering the United States. Mr. Adams and the Biden administration were criticized for their actions.
“Mayor Adams’ appeal is by no means short.” [of] “What he has, the state of Texas is gaining every day,” Abbott told attendees at the event, held just a few blocks from a hotel the Adams administration had converted into an immigrant reception center. It’s just a small part of it,” he said.
Adams touts New York City’s ability to ‘manage’ immigration crisis, offers Abbott free shelter stay while traveling
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (center) and other prominent Republicans discuss the ongoing illegal immigration issue in the United States during a speech in Manhattan Thursday night with President Biden (left) and Eric Adams of New York City. He blamed the mayor (right). (Getty Images)
Abbott explained why he has begun busing undocumented immigrants arriving in Texas to sanctuary cities across the country, noting that several local officials in the state have expressed concern about the number of migrants being dropped off by federal authorities. He said he decided to do so. community.
Initially, Abbott said, “With no Joe Biden and no border czar, we were going to bus the migrants to Washington, D.C.” [Vice President Kamala Harris] He actually visited the border and witnessed the chaos and sacrifice. ”
“My thought process was, if they don’t come to the border, we’ll bring the border to them,” he said.
Abbott said he decided to bus the immigrants to New York City after Adams criticized the governor’s handling of the issue.
“Quite literally out of nowhere, Eric Adams started criticizing me for sending them to New York City,” Abbott said. “We contacted his office and made it clear, ‘We’re not going to send them to New York.’ We issued a press release to the press and said, ‘We’re not going to send immigrants to New York.’ , which means Joe Biden will send immigrants to New York.”
But after Empire State officials refused to walk back their claims, Abbott said he was determined to turn rhetoric into reality.
Migrants who crossed the border from Mexico to Texas step off a bus after arriving at a Port Authority bus stop in Manhattan, New York City, August 25, 2022. (Spencer Pratt/Getty Images)
“If I’m going to take criticism, I want to take credit for it,” he told gala attendees. “Thus began the busing of illegal immigrants to the sanctuary city of New York City.”
About 180,000 illegal immigrants have arrived in New York City since 2022, and authorities are struggling to find housing for them, overwhelming the city’s resources. It is estimated that at least 107,000 people were bussed in from Texas.
“We must continue this process until next November when we have a new president who will protect America’s borders,” Abbott said.
Abbott criticized President Biden, saying his administration’s policy decisions have caused “chaos” and created an “extremely dangerous” situation in the state.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Thursday that Texas is “ground zero for the border destruction policies Joe Biden has imposed.” (Getty Images)
Illegal immigrant deported 8 times, 11 arrested in Ohio charged with murder: ‘Border is broken’
“Texas is ground zero for the border destruction policies Joe Biden has imposed,” he said. “You know, this chaos that we’ve seen across the country seems to have been going on for so long that it was only four years ago that illegal border crossings were at their lowest in 45 years. It’s so easy to forget.”
Mr. Abbott praised former President Donald Trump’s actions to curb illegal immigration, which were later reversed by Mr. Biden’s team.
“An all-time record has been set for the number of arrests placed on terrorist watchlists,” he said. “What none of us know at this point is how many terrorists on the watch list have escaped detection.”
Abbott also spoke about Biden’s insistence that Congress needs to intervene to alleviate the illegal immigration problem, saying governors say the president is “lying” or “has no idea what he’s talking about.” ” he criticized.
“The executive branch not only has the authority to deny illegal entry to the United States, but it also has the requirement of an order of Congress,” Abbott said. “Biden is not doing that. He is aiding and abetting illegal entry into the United States.”
Representative Elise Stefanik (RN.Y.), chair of the House Republican Committee, and Michael Whatley, chair of the Republican National Committee, were among the many prominent Republicans at the event.
“Joe Biden has turned every state into a border state,” Stefanik said Thursday night. “President Trump and the Republicans will run, and we will win in terms of securing our borders.”
“Joe Biden has turned every state into a border state,” Stefanik said Thursday night. “President Trump and the Republican Party will run, and we will absolutely win on securing the border.” (Jiang Haiyun/Bloomberg)
Before Mr. Abbott arrived in the Big Apple, Mr. Adams criticized the Texas Republican’s handling of the immigration crisis and playfully offered him a free stay in an immigrant shelter during his visit to the city.
“I’m going to offer him a stay at one of the HERRCs so he can see what he’s created and how we treat people with the dignity and respect that he deserves to show. You’ll understand what you’re dealing with.” Adams said at a press conference. On Thursday, he mentioned the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center, which has been serving as a temporary housing facility for migrants arriving in the city.
Adams also appeared to brag about the city’s response to immigrants arriving in the city over the past two years.
Before Mr. Abbott arrived in the Big Apple, New York City Mayor Eric Adams offered Mr. Abbott a free stay at an immigrant shelter during his trip to the city. (AP Photo/Eduardo Muñoz Alvarez, File)
“I don’t really know why he’s here or what he’s doing here, but let’s see how we can work together to address this crisis without leaving any of the children of families sleeping on the streets of New York City.” “I’m going to try it,” he said. Mr Abbott said: “As we work together, we shouldn’t shift the problem to local authorities. That’s not what executives should do. It’s unfortunate that he made that decision.”
Click to get the FOX News app
Abbott appeared on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity” Thursday night and said Adams’ offer to be placed in an immigrant shelter was “just a gimmick.”
New York City government projects to spend at least $10.6 billion on immigration by summer 2025.
