Despite having called Illinois "a welcoming state for immigrants," Democrat Gov. J.B. Pritzker has resorted to begging Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to stop busing migrants to The Prairie State.
Pritzker in recent days reached out to Abbott to ask that migrants not be bused to Illinois amid severe cold weather in the Midwest. Low temperatures in Chicago for the next week are forecast to be in minus digits.
Abbott began busing migrants to Democrat-led cities in April 2022 amid the crisis at the southern border under President Joe Biden.
"While action is pending at the federal level, I plead with you for mercy for the thousands of people who are powerless to speak for themselves," Pritzker said in a Friday letter to Abbott. "Please, while winter is threatening vulnerable people’s lives, suspend your transports and do not send more people to our state."
Pritzker then blasted Abbott on Sunday when he appeared on ABC’s "This Week."
"He does not care about people. He doesn't care about the, the migrants, he doesn't care about the fact that they're going to suffer if they're sent to certainly the Upper Midwest, as he is doing now," Pritzker said on the show, ABC News reported.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that the Office of Emergency Management and Communications said the city had received an estimated 34,562 migrants since Abbott’s busing initiatives began.
Abbott’s office on Friday told the newspaper that Texas will continue to transport migrants until Biden secures the U.S.-Mexico border.
"Instead of complaining about migrants sent from Texas, where we are also preparing to experience severe winter weather across the state, Governor Pritzker should call on his party leader to finally do his job and secure the border — something he continues refusing to do," Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris said in an email to the Sun-Times.
"Until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue transporting migrants to sanctuary cities to help our local partners respond to this Biden-made crisis."
In August 2021, Pritzker signed legislation expanding protections for immigrant and refugee communities.
"Throughout my governorship I've directed my administration to adopt policies that make Illinois a welcoming state for immigrants, and I'm proud to sign these accountability measures into law to advance our cause," Pritzker said at the time.
"Every family, every child, every human being deserves to feel safe and secure in the place they call home. I am committed to making sure that value defines what it means to live in Illinois."