Democratic Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she “would be happy to drain Texas of all its people” and welcome them to Chicago after Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott sent two busloads of immigrants to Chicago’s Union Station. Lightfoot made the comments during a news conference Thursday after the migrants arrived. “I am glad to take and drain Texas of all its inhabitants,” said Lightfoot. “I wouldn’t want to live in a state with a governor like that. I certainly wouldn’t want to live in a state where they do everything they can to strip people of their basic rights. And let’s not forget what they’ve done to women and to others seeking reproductive health care.” Lightfoot added that she welcomes “Texans to Chicago” and said “we’ll rent the buses next time to bring them here.” CHICAGO MAYOR LORI LIGHTFOOT SLAMS TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT ‘MAN WITH NO MORALS’ AFTER SENDING BUSES OF MIGRANTS Mayor Lori Lightfoot introduces Jazmine Sullivan during the first day of Lollapalooza 2022 in Grant Park on July 28, 2022 in Chicago, Illinois (Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images) However, the data shows that people living in Illinois are moving away to states like Texas. According to Forbes, citing USPS change of address data, Illinois ranks No. 3 for states residents are leaving and Texas No. 1 for where people are moving. Abbott sent two buses from Texas to Chicago on Wednesday, which arrived at Union Station at 7:30 p.m., carrying immigrants who crossed the southern border illegally. The mayor says the two buses were carrying 75 migrants, adding that many of them were from Venezuela. In a statement after the buses arrived Wednesday, Abbott said Chicago was being added as a “drop-off location” for future immigrant buses in response to “President Biden’s open border policies that are overwhelming border communities in Texas,” joining the existing locations of New York and Washington, DC Lightfoot harshly criticized Abbott on Thursday, calling him “a man without morals”. TEXAS SENDS FIRST BUS OF IMMIGRANTS TO CHICAGO, GET OFF AT TRON STATION Texas Governor Greg Abbott speaks at a news conference in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File) “Let me say loud and clear to Greg Abbott and his aides in Texas with these continued political stunts, Governor Abbott has confirmed what unfortunately many of us already knew, that he is a man without morality, humanity or shame,” he said. Lightfoot said. He also said it’s “my prayer” that Abbott “finds some humanity” and doesn’t continue to send busloads of immigrants to Chicago, but said if he does, “we’re ready.” Abbott’s office responded to her claims, saying Lightfoot is a “total hypocrite”. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Immigrants arrive in Chicago from Texas (Fox News) “Where was her outrage and condemnation of President Biden as he flew truckloads of immigrants across the country and dropped them into communities in the dead of night? Mayor Lightfoot knows nothing about Texas’ busing strategy and she needs to stop with her baseless lies and fear mongering. Texas continues to step up and respond to the border crisis created by Biden, taking unprecedented action to address the historic levels of illegal immigrants, terrorists and deadly drugs like fentanyl that are plaguing our communities and overwhelming border towns,” Texas spokeswoman Abbott, Renea Eze. he said. “If the mayor wants a solution to this humanitarian crisis, she should stop complaining and call on President Biden to take immediate action on border security — something the President continues to fail to do,” Eze added. Timothy Nerozzi, Emma Colton, Liz Friden, Grady Trimble, Paul Best and Bill Melugin contributed to this Fox News report. Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @asabes10.
