LA, a sanctuary city, condemns Abbott for transporting migrants from Texas, calling it “abhorrent.”

Democratic Politicians in Los Angeles Criticize Gov. Abbott for Sending Immigrants to California

Democratic politicians in Los Angeles have strongly condemned Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) for his decision to send a bus of immigrants, who were released into Texas border towns, to the sanctuary state of California. The move has sparked outrage and accusations of using human beings as pawns for political gain.

“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 on Wednesday.

Mayor Bass emphasized that Los Angeles is a city motivated by compassion and will not be swayed by politicians playing with human lives. She described the incident as a despicable stunt and expressed her disappointment in Governor Abbott’s actions.

Preparation and Support in Los Angeles

Chairwoman Janice Hahn of the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors stated that the county was prepared in advance for the arrival of the few dozen immigrants. Catholic charity organizations were also present at the drop-off spot, providing essential items such as food, blankets, and support to both adults and children. It is worth noting that all children were accompanied by the family members they crossed the border with.

This incident is just one example of the ongoing tensions between red and blue states regarding the border crisis.

DeSantis vs. Newsom: A Clash of Ideologies

In a visit to the United States-Mexico border, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL), a potential 2024 White House candidate, criticized Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) for leading a state that DeSantis claimed was too financially strained to care for illegal immigrants. Despite California’s self-proclaimed sanctuary status during the Trump years, DeSantis accused the state of failing to uphold federal immigration laws.

California’s sanctuary state policy means that it does not cooperate with federal law enforcement in arresting noncitizens without authorization. Instead, non-sanctuary cities and states hold these individuals for a short period before transferring them to federal custody for deportation proceedings.

The White House responded by rebuking DeSantis for using planes to transport illegal immigrants from the Texas border to Sacramento. In turn, Governor Newsom threatened to charge DeSantis with kidnapping and false imprisonment.

DeSantis argued that sanctuary cities are part of the problem, as they attract non-U.S. citizens to travel to the United States in the first place.

Abbott’s Busing Initiative

Since April 2022, Governor Abbott has been offering free bus rides for illegal immigrants as Texas border towns, including Del Rio and Eagle Pass, have struggled to handle the daily release of over 1,000 people from federal custody. This initiative extends to cities such as Denver, Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. So far, more than 20,000 immigrants have accepted free rides to cities across the country, with over 2 million people released into the U.S. in total.

Despite the controversy and criticism, the issue of immigration and the differing approaches of red and blue states continue to be hotly debated.

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