In a recent development, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker, a Democrat, has issued a fervent plea to Texas Governor Greg Abbott, urging him to halt the transportation of illegal immigrants to Chicago, a sanctuary city in Illinois.
The city is reportedly grappling with the influx of these immigrants.
In a letter to Abbott, Pritzker expressed his concern about the potential risk to the lives of these immigrants due to an impending winter storm in Chicago. He accused Abbott, who has been dispatching illegal immigrants from Texas to sanctuary cities across the country via buses and planes, of exhibiting a harsh indifference towards human life.
Pritzker's letter, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times, reads, "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. Please, while winter is threatening vulnerable people's lives, suspend your transports and do not send more people to our state."
He further added, "Your callousness, sending buses and planes full of migrants in this weather, is now life-threatening to every one of the arrivals. Hundreds of children's and families' health and survival are at risk due to your actions."
Since Abbott initiated the diversion of illegal immigrants from Texas to other states such as New York and Illinois, an estimated 34,562 migrants have arrived in Chicago. The citys Office of Emergency Management and Communications reports that daily flights to O'Hare and Midway international airports have transported 4,468 illegal immigrants since June 2023.
The Chicago Sun-Times also reports that city officials are preparing for the arrival of another busload of illegal immigrants on Friday. Out of the 14,574 immigrants currently housed in 28 operational shelters, 408 are awaiting placement, according to city officials.
In his letter, Pritzker accused Abbott of showing no interest in bipartisan solutions to the border crisis, alleging that Abbott is engaged in a "cruel political game."
On Wednesday, Pritzker revealed that Illinois is attempting to prevent businesses from leasing their aircraft to Texas, a move he believes is a strategy to discourage the transit of illegal immigrants. He stated, "We're trying to prevent those companies from leasing their planes to the state of Texas. You can't, in general, you can't tell a group a people or an aircraft that it can't come somewhere. On the other hand, there are lots of things that I think would be a significant deterrent and they already are working."
In November, Abbott announced that Texas had transported tens of thousands of illegal immigrants to various locations, including "over 12,500 to DC, over 25,000 to New York City, over 20,000 to Chicago, over 3,200 to Philadelphia, over 7,400 to Denver, over 1,100 to Los Angeles." He also pledged to continue this practice, asserting that it provides "vital relief to border towns."
Earlier this week, Chicago's Democrat Mayor Brandon Johnson accused Abbott of "attacking" cities led by black leaders by sending in illegal immigrants.
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