'The sheer irony': Internet reacts as Texas Gov Greg Abbott accuses Biden of using migrants as 'political pawns'

HOUSTON, TEXAS: Texas Governor Greg Abbott has doubled down on his decision to bus migrants to New York City, insisting that President Joe Biden's policies have forced his hand. The governor's remarks come amid a heated exchange with New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has criticized Abbott's actions as morally bankrupt.

Abbott has been at the forefront of the debate over immigration policy, particularly regarding the handling of migrants arriving at the Texas border.

Joe Biden's immigration policies

In an interview on Sunday, April 7, Abbott asserted that it is President Biden who is using illegal immigrants as "political pawns," accusing the administration of implementing an open border policy to appease the far left of the Democratic Party.

"So the person who’s actually using illegal immigrants as political pawns is Joe Biden," said Abbott. "Biden has created this open border policy that has allowed illegal immigrants into our country to appeal to and to appease the far leftists in the Democrat party," the Texas Republican added.  

The governor's comments come in response to criticisms from Mayor Adams, who offered Abbott a complimentary stay at a migrant shelter during his recent visit to New York City. Abbott dismissed the invitation as a "gimmick" and urged Adams to focus on addressing the challenges within his own city rather than engaging in political theatrics.

"Our country is being invaded in ways that put our country at risk because of the political games that Joe Biden has played," Abbott told host Martha MacCallum on Fox News Sunday. "And Mayor Adams is just aiding and abetting that by having a sanctuary city status...welcoming anybody from across the world to live there and stay there, on the bill of New York."

"What Mayor Adams needs to do is stop talking boldly about immigration and the migrants Texas is sending there and step up and do his own job," he added.

Abbott's decision to bus migrants from the Texas border to liberal-leaning cities like New York and Chicago has sparked controversy and drawn sharp rebukes from local officials. Adams, in particular, has condemned Abbott's actions as morally reprehensible, labeling the governor a "madman" for his busing policies.

"I'm going to offer him a stay in one of the [Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers], so he can see what he has created and understand how we are treating people with the dignity and respect that he should have shown," Mayor Adams said Thursday. 

Origins of the migrant busing policy

Speaking at the New York Republican Party's annual gala in Manhattan on Thursday, Abbott detailed the genesis of the busing program.

He recounted that the initial impetus for the busing initiative stemmed from the frustration of local officials who raised alarm over the influx of migrants apprehended at the border, only to be left in their communities by federal authorities.

With President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris failing to visit the border and witness the unfolding crisis firsthand, Abbott felt compelled to take action. "Noticing the chaos and cost unfolding at the border, my thought process was clear: if they're not coming to the border, we'll bring the border to them," Abbott explained.

Initially targeting Washington, DC, as the primary destination for bused migrants, Abbott's plan evolved in response to criticism from Adams. Contrary to his original intentions, Abbott found himself under scrutiny from Mayor Adams, who vocally opposed the idea of migrants being sent to New York City, per the New York Post.

“Quite literally out of nowhere Eric Adams starts criticizing me for sending them to New York City,” Abbott recalled. “We made clear, by contacting his office, and said, ‘We’re not sending them to New York'. We issued press releases to the press saying we’re not sending migrants to New York — that’s Joe Biden sending them to New York.”

Abbott later added, “If I’m going to get the criticism, I want to get the credit. And thus began the busing of illegal immigrants to the sanctuary city of New York City.”

According to recent figures released by Texas officials, the state has transported over 105,000 migrants since 2022, with approximately 39,000 individuals being bussed to New York City alone. Mayor Adams has warned that the city's resources are being stretched thin, with no end in sight to the crisis.

“We are going to have to maintain this process until we get a new president next November who will secure the border of the United States of America,” Abbott promised. 

Social media backlash

However, the Texas governor faced criticism on social media for saying the President was using illegal border crossers as "political pawns."

"Oh, the sheer irony of this statement," one posted on X.

"Well, that's exactly what Abbott has done. Funny how projection works," another wrote.

"Another one who drank the Kool-Aid," someone else commented. 

"It’s what they do best. Blame the other side for the situations they’ve created. Anyone who pays the slightest attention sees this fairly early on," another offered.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.