Despite criticism from the Left over Texas’ Republican Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to bus approximately 120,000 migrants from his border towns to other cities, many of the same blue cities have launched their own migrant transportation programs. According to a report in the New York Times, nearly 60,000 migrants have been bussed from blue cities to other metropolitan areas.
Most of these migrants originated in Venezuela, with many others hailing from impoverished countries. Abbott’s bussing program changed the immigration debate, potentially forcing migrants to disperse throughout the country, rather than congregating in Texas.
However, once thousands of migrants flooded into blue cities, state governments were forced to spend billions on housing and services, putting their sanctuary policies to the test. While these cities had previously tolerated Texas’ role in supporting migrants, they were less receptive when their own resources were stretched.
Many of these blue cities have since established their own bus programs, mirroring Texas’ initiative. The Times highlighted that despite their claims of being welcoming, many cities are actually trying to relocate migrants. New York has paid off over 35,000 migrants to leave, while Denver has recorded sending at least 22,000 migrants elsewhere.
Additionally, the article highlights how Joe Biden’s migrant crisis is bringing poverty into America. A segment of the story featured a migrant named Reydel Grau, who was bussed from Texas to New York City and now works at a meatpacking plant, earning $30,000 annually. However, this salary falls below the family poverty level in New York City, meaning Grau would likely be relying on government assistance.
Statistics show that nearly 60 percent of illegal immigrants and over 50 percent of legal immigrants are currently on some form of welfare. This has raised concerns about the long-term impacts of mass immigration on the American system.
