(RightIsRight.co) – The ongoing border crisis thanks to the lack of effort from the current administration is making things dire for Americans, and states that welcomed these ’migrants’ with open arms in the past are now realizing that trying to help others without being able to help yourself can only result in disaster.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) has issued a direct appeal to Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) to halt the transportation of migrants to Chicago amidst an impending severe winter storm.
In a strongly-worded letter, Pritzker highlighted the life-threatening conditions the migrants could face due to the extreme cold, exacerbated by Winter Storm Gerri, which is set to bring temperatures as low as -3 degrees overnight in Illinois.
Pritzker criticized the approach of sending asylum seekers, many of whom lack adequate winter clothing, to a city already struggling with overfilled shelters due to previous influxes of migrants. He underscored the humanitarian concerns and urged Abbott to reconsider the decision, hoping to appeal to his sense of humanity.
The Illinois governor acknowledged the challenges posed by the border crisis but suggested a collaborative approach, urging both Illinois and Texas, along with other states, to push Congress for immigration reform. The ongoing negotiations in Congress involve a border deal that could result in stricter asylum and border laws.
“As winter is threatening vulnerable people’s lives, suspend your transports and do not send more people to our state,” Pritzker pleaded with Abbott. His plea comes in the context of Texas having sent over 100,000 migrants to sanctuary cities under Operation Lone Star since March 2021, with Chicago receiving more than 30,800 migrants from Texas since August 2022.
In response, Texas Governor Abbott’s spokesman, Andrew Mahaleris, defended the state’s actions. He indicated that Texas would continue transporting migrants to sanctuary cities like Chicago as a response to what he termed the “Biden-made crisis,” until the current administration takes action to secure the southern border.
Mahaleris pointed out that Illinois, previously declared as a welcoming state by Governor Pritzker, should focus on urging President Biden to address border security issues rather than criticizing Texas for its migrant transportation efforts.
Mahaleris also highlighted that Texas itself is preparing for severe winter weather and suggested that Governor Pritzker’s energies would be better spent calling on the Democratic leadership to secure the border, a task he accuses them of neglecting.
This ongoing situation is occurring in the backdrop of escalating numbers at the southern U.S. border. Although official figures for December haven’t been released by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, it’s estimated that over 302,000 migrants attempted to cross the border last month.
Once published, these numbers are expected to set a new record for any single month.
