Texas Gov. Greg Abbott responded to criticism from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who accused him of being “morally bankrupt” and using illegal immigrants as political pawns by bussing migrants from the border to New York. Abbott, fresh off a visit to the city, was invited by Adams to stay at a migrant shelter and see how the city handles the immigration crisis. Adams touted NYC’s ability to manage the migrant crisis and offered Abbott a free stay at a shelter during his visit, claiming that Abbott’s actions displaced responsibility onto local municipalities. Abbott, however, defended his decision to bus migrants to sanctuary cities with liberal-leaning policies, attributing the influx of migrants to President Biden’s border policies.
Abbott reiterated his belief that Biden is ultimately to blame for the surge in illegal immigration and criticized Adams for not directing his ire at the president. He explained that he initially denied sending migrants to New York but eventually decided to take credit for it after continued criticism from Adams. Fox News’ Martha Maccallum noted that Adams had characterized Abbott as morally bankrupt and using migrants as political pawns, prompting Abbott to shift the blame to Biden for creating an open-border policy that allows illegal immigrants to enter the country.
Abbott accused Adams of assisting Biden’s border policies through NYC’s sanctuary status and highlighted several recent crime incidents in the city involving illegal immigrants. He called on Adams to focus on his own responsibilities as mayor, pointing out the dangers in New York City under his watch. Abbott also highlighted the decrease in illegal immigration in Texas due to the state’s resistance to Biden’s policies, in contrast to other states that have seen an increase. Texas is involved in a legal battle over a law that would authorize state police to arrest migrants suspected of entering the U.S. illegally.
The governor expressed confidence in winning the legal battle, emphasizing that Texas is upholding federal laws regarding border security. He argued that while Biden has abandoned his responsibility to prevent illegal entry, Texas has embraced the duty to enforce immigration laws. Abbott pointed out that there are existing laws passed by Congress that require the detention of those entering the country illegally, which Texas is following. Despite the criticism from Adams and others, Abbott remains committed to enforcing immigration laws and protecting the border.
Overall, Abbott’s interactions with Mayor Adams highlight the ongoing debate over immigration policy and the responsibilities of state and local governments in dealing with the migration crisis. Abbott’s defense of his decision to bus migrants to sanctuary cities and his criticism of Biden’s border policies underscore the complex and contentious nature of the issue. The legal battle in Texas over state enforcement of immigration laws adds another layer to the ongoing national debate on how to address illegal immigration and border security.
