Governorabbott has an account on social media.
The governor’s program of busing asylum seekers out of Texas and dropping them off in Democrat-controlled cities has been criticized.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had conversations with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis about his program of busing asylum seekers out of state prior to DeSantis flying a planeload of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, an Abbott spokesperson has confirmed.
Texas’ Republican governor encourages other states to follow his lead in expelling asylum seekers.
The arrival of 50 migrants by plane at Martha’s Vineyard, an affluent island enclave off the coast of Massachusetts, drew national attention.
Several of the migrants, most of whom are from Venezuela, told reporters that they flew from San Antonio, despite the fact that DeSantis admitted to paying for the flights.
According to online flight records, the planes departed from the Alamo City, making stops in Florida and South Carolina along the way. However, Abbott’s office wouldn’t confirm whether all, or just some of the migrants, were flown from here. “Though we were not involved in these initial planes to Martha’s Vineyard, we appreciate the support in responding to this national crisis and helping Texans,” Abbott spokesperson Eze said. “Gov. Abbott encourages and welcomes all his fellow governors to engage in this effort to secure the border and focus on the failing and illegal efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration to continue these reckless open border policies.” DeSantis now joins Abbott and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, another Republican anti-immigrant hardliner, in expelling migrants from their states in what critics call a pricy and cruel game of political grandstanding.
Martha’s Vineyard is in the company of Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C., which have been targets of the Republican governors’ migrant relocation programs. More than 8,000 migrants have been sent by the governors.
Abbott has repeatedly maintained that his program is a bid to make President Joe Biden crack down on the current surge illegal border crossings. However, federal data shows that the apprehensions have actually increased during Biden’s watch. Civil rights groups also point out that the Texas Republican launched the busing program amid a reelection campaign in which he’s shifted further and further right to shore up his base. DeSantis’ participation comes as the Florida politician has been discussed as prime contender for the Republican presidential nomination.
Two busloads of asylum seekers ended up at the official residence of the vice president on Thursday. The migrants were dropped off at the front gates.
The president of the League of United Latin American Citizens said that they were dumped in front of the house of the vice president. That is un-Christian, un-Texan, and something that should not be allowed. Shame on you. Governor, shame on you.
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