Texas Gov. Abbott sends 42 migrants on bus to downtown Los Angeles

The latest migrant bus trip arrived in Los Angeles on Wednesday, June 14, with dozens of migrants being sent from Texas. Many of the 42 migrants on the bus were from Latin American countries, including Honduras and Venezuela. One person had an immigration appointment in New York.

“Texas’ small border towns remain overwhelmed and overrun by the thousands of people illegally crossing into Texas from Mexico because of President Biden’s refusal to secure the border,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, R, said in a statement. “Los Angeles is a major city that migrants seek to go to, particularly now that its city leaders approved its self-declared sanctuary city status. Our border communities are on the frontlines of President Biden’s border crisis, and Texas will continue providing this much-needed relief until he steps up to do his job and secure the border.”

After the bus dropped the migrants off in Los Angeles, they were cared for by city agencies and charitable organizations at St. Anthony’s Croatian Catholic Church near downtown. In a statement, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, D, said she had instructed city departments to prepare to accept migrants from out of state after Republican governors began sending asylum-seekers to Democratic states in recent months.

“This did not catch us off guard, nor will it intimidate us. Now, it’s time to execute our plan,” Mayor Bass said in the statement. “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. We are a city that seeks to treat all people with dignity and compassion and we will continue to work closely with non-profit organizations, including the L.A. Welcomes Collective, as well as with our County, State and Federal partners.”

The bus trip taking migrants to Los Angeles happened just days after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, R, flew groups of migrants from border states to Sacramento, California. Last fall, Florida flew 49 Venezuelans to the upscale Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard.