“What the governor of Texas did is unthinkable. When you think about this country, a country that has always been open to those fleeing persecution and other intolerable conditions,” he said. “We always welcome it. And this governor isn’t doing that in Texas. But we’re going to set the right message and the right tone to be here for these families.” Abbott involved New York as a means of trying to force President Joe Biden to enact tighter border security measures. “New York is the ideal destination for these immigrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams touted in the sanctuary city,” Abbott said in a statement. “I hope he keeps his promise to welcome all immigrants with open arms so that our border towns can find relief.” Abbott claimed a bus that arrived in New York on Friday with 54 migrant passengers was the first to be sent from Texas, but New York City officials said they were skeptical, pointing to a much larger number of people arriving in the city recently. . months, although not all by bus. Manuel Castro, the city’s immigration commissioner, said Abbott was using immigrants “as political pawns” and urged the Biden administration to provide federal relief. “Our budgets are affected because no one is planning [4,000] the [5,000] or 6,000 or more people to reach, so they need a shelter,” Castro said in an interview with Gothamist. “And of course, that’s the help we’re asking the federal government to step in.” Although the city is asking the federal government for emergency help, it is not talking to officials in Texas. “Honestly, they’re not communicating, they’re not coordinating at all,” Castro said. “This is meant to be disruptive, and that’s unfortunate. Because we are talking about people’s lives.”
