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Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin has joined a growing chorus of state Democrats who are criticizing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for sending buses of undocumented migrants to Chicago and other major American cities, calling the act “cruel and inhumane.”
Durbin made the remarks Friday after visiting a Salvation Army shelter in the Windy City, where he says “140 or more individuals have been sent from the state of Texas and other places to Chicago.”
“This idea of dumping these helpless people on buses and trucking them off to New York and Washington and Chicago is cruel and it’s inhumane,” Durbin told reporters.
“It does not represent who we are as Americans,” he also said, adding that “I’m sorry that the governors of these states have done this without thinking of what the consequences are to these individuals, but we need to make the best of the situation.”
CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT RIPS TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT AFTER MIGRANT BUSES ARRIVE
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin speaks to reporters on Friday after visiting a shelter where migrants who were bussed to Chicago are staying.
(Fox News)
Three buses carrying migrants are reported to have arrived in Chicago in recent weeks. Arizona, which, like Texas, shares a border with Mexico, also has sent migrants on buses to Washington, D.C.
“I want to say a great thank you to the Salvation Army — what an amazing group of women and men who really do dedicate their lives to the less fortunate,” Durbin said Friday. “They are providing emergency care here for these people in a way we can be proud of.”
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot previously has lashed out at Abbott for the transportation of migrants, calling it “unacceptable” at a press conference this week.
CHICAGO-AREA REPUBLICAN MAYOR REACTS TO MIGRANT BUS ARRIVALS
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot also has criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for sending buses of migrants to her city.
(Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)
“My frustration comes from the actions of the governor of Texas,” the Chicago mayor said. “There could be a level of coordination and cooperation, but he chooses to do none of those things. Instead, he chooses to send human beings across the country to an uncertain destination.”
“He is manufacturing a human crisis, and it makes no sense to me,” Lightfoot added. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made similar comments, accusing Abbott of treating migrants “like cattle.”
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But Abbott has shot back at Lightfoot’s comments, accusing her of deflecting the blame to him instead of President Biden.
“[Biden’s] inaction at our border is putting the lives of Texans at risk & is overwhelming our communities,” the Texas governor said in a tweet. “Texas is doing Biden’s job to secure the border.”
Fox News’ Andrea Vacchiano contributed to this report.
