While the federal government is missing in action as Texas border towns are overwhelmed by illegal immigrants, the Lone Star State is taking action.
Since the inception of the Texas busing program more than 20,000 migrants have been relocated from the Texas cities to “sanctuary cities” to include Chicago, Denver, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. At a cost of just over $40 million, Texas has employed more than 400 buses for this mission to ease the burden on border communities.
How did the situation deteriorate to this point? Because of the Biden administration’s incompetent border policies—fueled by open border advocates.
While Republicans have certainly criticized the president’s policies, they aren’t alone. New York City Mayor Eric Adams was quoted as saying “The president and the White House have failed New York City.” Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs has said that their preparation for the end of Title 42 has been “largely without support from the federal government.” Even the mayor of El Paso, who was asked by the White House to not amplify its publicity nightmare, could no longer ignore the carnage, saying “I really believe that today, our asylum-seekers are not safe as we have hundreds and hundreds on the streets, and that’s not the way we want to treat people.”
Gov. Greg Abbott’s plan to bus migrants out of Texas has been a responsible decision for the state. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform, illegal immigration places a heavy financial strain on Texas to include $13 billion in 2022, an average of $4,466 per alien. Based on the numbers listed above on the overall cost of relocation and the number of migrants that have been relocated, the state has spent an average of $2,105.26 per migrant. The state is saving $2,360.74 per person whom they have bused to sanctuary cities.
Some have called the governor’s busing plan inhumane, or immoral. This argument fails to make any logical sense. These migrants willingly boarded the buses in order to find better opportunities. The Department of Public Safety inspects every single bus before departure, so there is no risk to their safety. Additionally, the program provides food, water, blankets and security throughout the entire trip, paid for at the expense of Texas taxpayers. Oddly, this policy has been matched by Gov. Katie Hobbs of Arizona with little criticism from Gov. Abbott’s critics. It begs the question: Why isn’t it inhumane when a liberal governor relocates migrants, but it is when a conservative governor does?
Texas’ decision to bus migrants out of the state has been a cost-effective method that has lifted the hardships on border communities, while keeping migrants safe and healthy. It has also provided a free service to those who are looking for better lives in the sanctuary cities—which have promised them opportunities for many years. If this isn’t what responsible governance looks like, I’d be hard pressed to tell you what does.