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2nd busload of migrants arrives in LA from Texas

July 1, 2023

A second bus filled with migrants from Texas rolled into Union Station on Saturday afternoon, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass confirmed, adding that the group shipped to the state as a political stunt was greeted by a coalition of government employees and humanitarian aid workers.

“Though we were not formally notified, the mayor’s office became aware of the bus yesterday and mobilized,” said a statement from Bass’ staff.

The statement said the city was working with city and county workers plus “a coalition of nonprofit organizations, in addition to our faith partners, to execute a plan set in place earlier this year.”

The statement added: “The City of Los Angeles believes in treating everyone with respect and dignity and will do so.”

The busload included 41 migrants who made the trip from Brownsville, Texas, according to a statement from The L.A. Welcomes Collective, a network of immigrant rights, immigration legal services providers, and faith organizations focused on migrant arrival rapid response.

The group greeted the migrants, offering them food, clothing, and legal immigration information, the statement added. L.A. Welcomes Collective staff was working to reunite the migrants with loved ones who live in Southern California.

“Independent of origin, mode of transportation or motive, Los Angeles is organized and ready to receive these asylum seekers when they get here. If Los Angeles is their last destination, we will ensure this is the place where they get a genuine and humane reception,” stated Angelica Salas, Executive Director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA). “As we approach the long 4th of July weekend, it is befitting to remember that migrants also know struggle and perseverance, and they too seek a better tomorrow where their lives will be valued and celebrated under the banners of justice and compassion.”

On June 14, 42 migrants were bused from the Texas-Mexico border to Union Station by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who proclaimed his state’s border region “overrun” and hinted that more shipments of immigrants could follow.

“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,” Abbott 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 front lines 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.”

Abbott has indicated he was planning to continue such actions.

According to Abbott’s office, Texas has been charting buses to take migrants from Texas to locations including Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago and Philadelphia, and most recently adding Denver to the list of destinations. Since beginning the busing effort last spring, more than 21,600 migrants have been shipped out of Texas to “these self-declared sanctuary cities,” according to Abbott’s office.

Last month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration said that three dozen migrants whom the state flew from the U.S. southern border to Sacramento on private planes all went willingly, disputing allegations by California officials that the individuals were coerced to travel under false pretenses.

The admission of responsibility only served to heighten tensions between DeSantis and Gov. Gavin Newsom, his frequent political sparring partner.

Also in June, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a motion directing the city to draft a “Sanctuary City” ordinance that when passed would prohibit any city resources, property or personnel from being used for any federal immigration enforcement.

After the first busload arrived, members of the Los Angeles City Council launched an investigation into whether human trafficking and kidnapping were committed.

Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez introduced the motion, with her colleagues Nithya Raman, Monica Rodriguez and Hugo Soto-Martinez, to direct the City Attorney’s office to conduct the investigation.

In addition, a resolution was introduced calling upon L.A. County District Attorney George Gascón, California State Attorney General Rob Bonta and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to conduct similar investigations for possible crimes committed during the “political stunt.”

City News Service contributed to this report

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2nd busload of migrants arrives in LA from Texas

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