Texas Gov. Abbott buses dozens of migrants to Los Angeles

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday said his administration had sent a group of migrants from the border to Los Angeles, California, as he continues to protest against the federal immigration policies. 

“Texas’ small border towns remain overwhelmed and overrun by the thousands of people illegally crossing into Texas from Mexico because of President Biden’s refusal to secure the border,” Abbott said in a press release.

“Los Angeles is a major city that migrants seek to go to, particularly now that its city leaders approved its self-declared sanctuary city status. Our border communities are on the frontlines of President Biden’s border crisis, and Texas will continue providing this much-needed relief until he steps up to do his job and secure the border,” he added.

The migrants were dropped off at L.A. Union Station at around 4 p.m. after a 24-hour bus ride, said the office of Los Angeles City Councilmember Kevin de Leon.  

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed the arrival of more than 40 migrants that had been sent from Texas. She said the city was not caught “off guard” and first responders and nonprofits were already on standby by the time the migrants arrived in the city. 

“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 in a statement. 

“It is abhorrent that an American elected official is using human beings as pawns in his cheap political games,” she added. 

Immigration advocates said the migrants were given food, shelter, and legal aid at a church near downtown L.A. Many of the passengers came from Venezuela, Guatemala, and Honduras. 

"They are exhausted, tired, and traumatized," said Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesperson for the nonprofit Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights.

Abbott has previously sent more than 21,600 of migrants to self-declared sanctuary cities in the nation since Spring of 2022, including New York, Chicago, Denver, and Philadelphia, as well as to Vice President Kamala Harris’ home in Washington, D.C.