Sanctuary city Los Angeles decries Abbott for busing migrants from Texas: ‘It is abhorrent’
Anna Giaritelli
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Democratic politicians in Los Angeles attacked Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) for sending a bus of immigrants who were released into Texas border towns to the sanctuary state of California.
“It is abhorrent that an American elected official is using human beings as pawns in his cheap political games,” said Karen Bass, the Democratic mayor of Los Angeles, in a statement following the drop-off of 40 people Wednesday.
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“Los Angeles is not a city motivated by hate or fear and we absolutely will not be swayed or moved by petty politicians playing with human lives,” Bass said, adding that the city was “on the receiving end of a despicable stunt.”
Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Janice Hahn said the county was prepared in advance for the arrival of the few dozen.
Catholic charity organizations in Los Angeles were on site at the drop-off spot to provide food, blankets, and other items to adults and children. All children were accompanied by the family member they crossed the border with.
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The incident is the latest flare-up between red and blue states over the border crisis.
In his first visit to the United States-Mexico border as a 2024 White House candidate, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) for being the leader of a state that DeSantis claimed was too broke to care for illegal immigrants despite it championing itself during the Trump years as a sanctuary that would welcome and protect people in violation of federal immigration laws.
California has dubbed itself a sanctuary state, meaning that it will not cooperate with federal law enforcement who carry out laws passed by Congress that call for noncitizens without authorization to be in the U.S. to be arrested and go through deportation proceedings before a judge.
Non-sanctuary cities and states will hold illegal immigrants who are arrested on criminal, non-immigration charges for a period of hours to days for federal police to transfer the individual into custody so that he or she can begin the deportation process.
Meanwhile, the White House rebuked DeSantis for paying to transport illegal immigrants by plane from the Texas border to Sacramento. Newsom threatened to charge DeSantis with kidnapping and false imprisonment.
DeSantis blamed the sanctuary cities for being part of the problem and enticing non-U.S. citizens to travel to the United States in the first place.
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Abbott began offering free bus rides for illegal immigrants in April 2022, as Texas border towns, including Del Rio and Eagle Pass, became overwhelmed with more than 1,000 people released from federal custody onto the streets daily.
Abbott’s busing initiative includes Denver, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. To date, more than 20,000 immigrants have signed waivers and accepted free rides to cities nationwide. More than 2 million total people have been released into the U.S.