Decline in Migrant Buses from Texas
- Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott's plan to bus migrants to Democratic-run cities has been thwarted by a decline in border crossings.
- Major cities have not seen any buses of asylum seekers from Texas governor this year.
- The decline in migrant buses from Texas is due to a steep drop in illegal border crossings.
In a significant shift, Texas Governor Greg Abbott's controversial initiative to bus asylum seekers to Democratic-led cities has reportedly stalled due to a sharp decline in migrant crossings at the southern border. Abbott, who previously claimed to have sent over 100,000 migrants to various cities since 2022, has faced scrutiny as major cities like Washington D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, and Chicago have not received any buses in 2024. An investigation by NBC News revealed that the number of unauthorized crossings has plummeted, with June 2024 seeing the lowest figures in three years. Abbott's office acknowledged the decrease in migrant numbers but attributed it to the governor's own border policies, which they claim have reduced illegal crossings by 85%. The spokesperson, Andrew Maheris, noted that fewer crossings mean fewer buses departing for sanctuary cities. This decline in bus activity has been evident since January, with cities reporting no arrivals from Texas for months. The last bus to Philadelphia arrived in December 2023, while Los Angeles and Denver have also seen no recent buses. As Chicago prepares to host the Democratic National Convention, city officials are not anticipating a surge in new arrivals but are making contingency plans. In New York, bus arrivals ceased after Mayor Eric Adams imposed restrictions and initiated legal action against bus companies transporting migrants from Texas. Immigration activist Power Malu noted that the predictable bus schedules have vanished, reflecting the broader changes in migration patterns and policies.