By Ted Hesson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The state of Texas bused a gaggle of about 60 newly arrived migrants to Chicago on Wednesday, as Republican Governor Greg Abbott expands his effort to push duty for border crossers to his Democratic political opponents.

Texas has bused greater than 7,000 migrants to Washington, D.C., and New York Metropolis since April, spending practically $13 million on the initiative by means of Aug. 8, in line with state knowledge obtained by means of a Freedom of Info Act request.

Abbott, who’s in search of a 3rd time period in November midterm elections, says the buses are wanted as a result of Democratic President Joe Biden has didn’t safe the border with Mexico. U.S. Border Patrol made a file 1.8 million migrant arrests on the southwest border from Oct. 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022.

Abbott on Wednesday night time known as out Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, a Democrat, for her metropolis’s “sanctuary” regulation limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

“Mayor Lightfoot likes to tout the duty of her metropolis to welcome all no matter authorized standing,” Abbott mentioned in a press release. “I look ahead to seeing this duty in motion.”

Following Abbott’s announcement, Lightfoot spokesperson Ryan Johnson confirmed on Twitter (NYSE:) that about 5 dozen migrants had been despatched to Chicago from Texas.

“Chicago is a welcoming metropolis and as such has collaborated throughout varied departments and businesses to make sure we greeted them with dignity and respect,” he mentioned.

Since Abbott started the busing effort, the Democratic mayors of Washington and New York Metropolis have clamored for federal help. Newly arrived migrants in Washington have struggled to safe everlasting housing and medical care, Reuters reported final week.

The White Home has mentioned that Abbott’s efforts and the same push by Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, one other Republican, are sowing chaos and utilizing migrants as political pawns. However this previous week, the Democrat-led metropolis of El Paso, Texas additionally despatched a bus carrying migrants to New York Metropolis and deliberate to ship one to Chicago, in line with information stories.