Texas sends bus of migrants to Chicago, mayor calls program 'racist'
CHICAGO - Two buses carrying migrants from Texas arrived in Chicago on Wednesday night.
Chicago's Democrat mayor called Gov. Greg Abbott’s strategy "racist and xenophobic."
Abbott's office said if Chicago has a problem with it, they should take it up with President Joe Biden.
About 75 people arrived at Chicago's Union Station as a part of Gov. Greg Abbott's program busing migrants who illegally crossed the southern border to cities run by Democrats. He suggested this will be a new stop for future buses, too.
"Mayor Lightfoot loves to tout the responsibility of her city to welcome all regardless of legal status, and I look forward to seeing this responsibility in action as these migrants receive resources from a sanctuary city with the capacity to serve them," Abbott said in a statement.
Chicago is the third city to receive buses of migrants from the border. Washington, D.C. and New York were previously used as drop-off locations as well.
Chicago officials say they began marshaling resources for the possibility of migrants arriving by busload weeks ago after seeing similar bus drop-offs first in other cities.
A spokesperson from Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office responded calling the practice "racist."
"Unfortunately, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is without any shame or humanity. But ever since he put these racist practices of expulsion in place, we have been working with our community partners to ready the city to receive these individuals."
Lightfoot says Texas did not collaborate with local resources on the arrival.
RELATED: 'Make my day': Gov. Abbott hits back at NYC mayor over threat to bus New Yorkers to Texas
"It would be nice if they had collaborated with us. It would be nice if they had communicated who they were sending, what numbers, what their circumstances are, whether or not they needed any kind of medical assistance, whether they were going to be here in Chicago or going elsewhere," she said. "That’s what a leader would do. That’s not what Gov. Abbott has done."
Abbott launched his migrant busing program in April, saying it’s meant to relieve the strain on border communities overwhelmed by people crossing illegally.
"We are sending them to the United States Capitol, where the Biden administration will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across our border," he said in an April 6 interview.
With one month left to go in the government's fiscal year, Texas Border Patrol agents have so far detained more than 1.8 million asylum seekers or people trying to cross illegally. That already topped the record set last fiscal year of nearly 1.7 million.
While the rides from Texas are no cost for the migrants, the El Paso Times reports the state has already spent nearly $13 million on the rides.
READ MORE: Beto O'Rourke discusses guns, abortion and Pres. Biden not doing enough about the border
Lightfoot had harsh words for Abbott over his plans to send even more migrants.
"It is my prayer, literally, that this man finds some humanity and doesn’t do that," she said. "But should he continue to do what he seems determined to do, we’re ready. We are the village, and we are going to make sure whoever comes to Chicago that we’re going to take care of them."
In a statement Thursday, a spokesperson for Gov. Abbott said in part, "if the mayor wants a solution to this humanitarian crisis, she should stop complaining and call on President Biden to take immediate action to secure the border—something the president continues failing to do."
The pentagon denied two requests in July and August from D.C.’s mayor for National Guard help with the migrant situation.
Llightfoot says if more buses come, it too will need help from the feds.
"What we have and continue to do is welcome with open arms and refuse to turn our backs on them at a time when they need support the most," she said.
Mayor Lightfoot says each person will be given a health assessment, a place to rest and essential services while they figure out the next steps.