Texas has spent nearly $150 million in taxpayer money to bus illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities since Gov. Greg Abbott launched the controversial initiative in April 2022, according to a new report. I’ve spent money.
Mr. Abbott, a Republican, launched the program to save Texas from an influx of immigrants illegally crossing the southern border and being released into the state. The system was also launched to protest the Biden administration’s rollback of some pandemic-era border restrictions and to ensure that “sanctuary” cities bear the brunt of open border policies.
Mr. Abbott announced last month that his state was now sending more than 100,000 migrants to sanctuary cities across the country to help overwhelmed border states. Arizona also began busing immigrants in 2022, and Florida similarly began flying immigrants to liberal strongholds like Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Migrants board a city bus to a shelter reception center after traveling from Del Rio, Texas, to the Port Authority Bus Terminal in New York City on May 13, 2023. (Victor J. Blue)
Democratic states and immigrant-infested cities funnel millions of dollars in federal coronavirus aid to help illegal aliens.
The bus ride of migrants is part of Operation Lone Star, a joint operation by the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas National Guard to secure the border. Abbott began busing immigrants to Washington, D.C., and later expanded to cities such as New York City, Denver, Philadelphia, and Chicago. In addition, the state sent airmail to some cities.
The practice has proven highly controversial in liberal cities and among the Biden administration, which has accused Texas of intentionally causing chaos in a political stunt.
But the effort comes at a high price, as NPR’s Texas Newsroom reported, citing records obtained under the Texas Public Information Act, that as of January 24, the cost was $1. It is calculated to be over $48 million.
Ray Perryman, president of the Texas-based economic research firm The Perryman Group, said the $148 million represents about half of 1 percent of Texas’ $321 billion two-year state budget.
“There’s certainly going to be a lot of money spent,” Perryman told Texas Newsroom.
“These dollars…are not a huge percentage of the overall budget, so it’s certainly something that can be done,” Perryman said. I think the question is “should I do it?”
Texas has spent about $150 million in taxpayer funds to bus illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities since Gov. Greg Abbott launched the controversial initiative in April 2022. It’s here. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images, left, John Moore/Getty Images, right)
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Abbott announced last month that Texas had transferred more than 100,000 migrants to sanctuary cities, but he said he has no intention of stopping the effort.
“Until Mr. Biden reverses course on his open borders policy, Texas will continue to transport migrants to these cities,” Abbott said on the X program. “We have no intention of backing down on our efforts to secure our borders.” he said.
Mr. Abbott has stepped up efforts to stop migrants from crossing into Texas, including installing razor wire and denying federal agents access to Shelby Park. This measure, in part, led to a sharp decline in border crossings during January.
Overall, Border Patrol arrests along the southern border decreased by 50% in January compared to December.
Meanwhile, sanctuary cities have expressed dissatisfaction with busing migrants, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the crisis would “destroy” the Big Apple. Adams said the state has taken in 170,000 immigrants since spring 2022, and the cost of feeding and housing them will be at least $10 billion.
A Chinese immigrant speaks with a Border Patrol agent before being processed after crossing the Rio Grande into the United States. (Brandon Bell)
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New York City and Chicago have placed limits on charter buses coming to both cities, and Ms. Adams has filed a $700 million lawsuit against bus and transportation companies involved in transporting migrants.
Meanwhile, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker last month implored Mr. Abbott to stop sending migrants to Chicago because of the upcoming winter storm. Mr. Abbott has brought more than 30,000 immigrants to Chicago since mid-2022.
The numbers seen in these cities represent only a fraction of the millions of migrants who have visited the southern border. In fiscal year 2023 alone, 2.4 million migrants were encountered, rising to over 302,000 in December.
FOX News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
