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Democrat Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she would be “happy to empty Texas of all its people” and welcome them to Chicago after Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent two buses with migrants on board to Chicago’s Union Station.
Lightfoot made the comments at a press conference Thursday after the arrival of the migrants.
“I am happy to take and Texas drain, of all its inhabitants,” Lightfoot said. “I wouldn’t want to live in a state with a governor like that. I certainly wouldn’t want to live in a state where they do everything they can to deprive people of their basic rights. And let’s not forget what they did to women and others seeking reproductive health care.”
Lightfoot added that she welcomes “Texans to Chicago” and said “we’ll rent the buses next time to get them here.”
Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduces Jazmine Sullivan on the first day of Lollapalooza in 2022 at Grant Park on July 28, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois
(Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
However, data shows that Illinois residents are moving away to states like Texas.
According to Forbesciting USPS address change data, Illinois ranks #3 for states where residents move to and Texas ranks #1 for where people move to.
Abbott sent two buses from Texas to Chicago on Wednesday, which arrived at Union Station at 7:30 p.m., carrying migrants who illegally crossed the southern border.
The mayor said 75 migrants were on the two buses and added that many of them were from Venezuela.
In a statement after the buses arrived on Wednesday, Abbott said Chicago was being added as a “drop-off location” for future migrant buses in response to President Biden’s “open border policies overwhelming Texas border communities.” , joining the existing locations. from New York and Washington, D.C.
Lightfoot harshly criticized Abbott on Thursday, saying he was a ‘man without any morals’
TEXAS SHIPS MIGRANT BUSES TO CHICAGO FOR FIRST TIME, DROP OFF AT STATION
Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks during a press conference in Austin, Texas.
(AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)
“Let me say loud and clear to Greg Abbott and his enablers in Texas with these continued political stunts, Governor Abbott confirmed what sadly many of us already knew, that he is a man with no morals, humanity or shame,” Lightfoot said.
She also said it’s “my prayer” that Abbott “finds some humanity” and doesn’t continue to send migrant buses in Chicago, but said if he did, “we’re ready.”
Abbott’s office responded to his claims, saying Lightfoot was an “utter hypocrite”.
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Migrants arrive in Chicago from Texas
(FoxNews)
“Where was his outrage and condemnation of President Biden as he flew planes full of migrants across the country and dropped them into communities under cover of night? Mayor Lightfoot knows nothing of the bus strategy of Texas and must stop the baseless lies and fearmongering.Texas continues to escalate and respond to the border crisis prompted by Biden, taking unprecedented action to address historic levels of illegal immigrants, terrorists and deadly drugs like fentanyl that are sweeping through our communities and overwhelming border towns,” said Abbott publicist Renea Eze. said.
“If the mayor wants a solution to this humanitarian crisis, she should stop complaining and call on President Biden to take immediate action to secure the border, which the president continues to fail to do,” Eze added.
Fox News’ Timothy Nerozzi, Emma Colton, Liz Friden, Grady Trimble, Paul Best and Bill Melugin contributed to this report.