Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass (D) criticized the state of Texas for bussing migrants to the city, calling the actions of Gov. Greg Abbott (R) a “despicable stunt.” The statement followed Texas bussing 42 migrants to the city this week.
According to the mayor, the move by Texas did not “catch us off guard, nor will it intimidate us.”
“Los Angeles is not a city motivated by hate or fear and we absolutely will not be swayed or moved by petty politicians playing with human lives,” she said.
The state of California and the city of Los Angeles are each self-declared sanctuary locations. The Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a binding resolution declaring the sanctuary status earlier this month.
Texas border towns are overwhelmed & overrun because of Biden’s open border policies.
Texas buses migrants to self-declared sanctuary cities like LA to provide relief to our border communities.
We will continue this effort until Biden secures the border.https://t.co/4QlhvAPAAb
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) June 15, 2023
Included in the resolution, the city government declared that it would not use its “resources, property or personnel” for federal immigration enforcement.
The recent ordinance followed an earlier non-binding resolution declaring the city’s sanctuary status.
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez said that the city’s immigrants “need more than symbolic gestures.”
“They need lasting protections that are enshrined into city law,” she said. The councilmember said that it was time for Los Angeles “to finally become a true sanctuary city.”
Los Angeles is not the only major city facing strain due to increased migration following the 2021 inauguration of President Joe Biden.
Last year, New York City declared a state of emergency following the entry of tens of thousands of migrants into its borders.
“A city recovering from an ongoing global pandemic is being overwhelmed by a humanitarian crisis made by human hands,” said Mayor Eric Adams (D).
New York City began bussing migrants to other counties within the state, sparking more than 30 counties to declare their own states of emergency.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) caused controversy last month when she described the migrants as in the United States “legally.”
“The vast majority of these people who are simply seeking legal humanitarian relief,” she said. “They’re here legally. They’re absolutely here legally.”
“They have a right to seek asylum in this country based on what they’ve had to endure in their home countries,” the governor said.
