Greg Abbott Makes Los Angeles the Latest Backdrop of His Anti-migrant Stunt Show

Republican governor Greg Abbott has once again shipped a busload of migrants to a Democrat-led city from Texas, this time choosing Los Angeles in what marks another escalation of the anti-immigration stunts that Abbott and Florida governor Ron DeSantis have waged against California. Upon arriving in Los Angeles Wednesday afternoon, the more than 40 migrants were greeted by local officials and nonprofit workers who offered to provide shelter and legal services.

In a Wednesday statement, the Texas governor sought to characterize the move as a response to Joe Biden’s refusal “to secure the border” and claimed that small border towns in Texas “remain overrun” with migrants. Abbott chose Los Angeles, he added, because local leaders have “approved its self-declared sanctuary city status.” Over the past year, Abbott has orchestrated similar drop-offs of over 17,500 migrants in cities including Chicago, New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. DeSantis, meanwhile, has copied the tactic on a smaller scale, using Florida’s state coffers to pick up migrants in Texas and flying them to Martha’s Vineyard last year as well as Sacramento, California, earlier this month.

All of these stunts have sparked widespread outrage amongst immigration advocates. And California governor Gavin Newsom—along with Texas sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County—believe that a crime may have been committed, as Salazar has claimed they were lured onto flights under false pretenses, including murky job offers.

“I met with a sheriff that wants to press charges,” Newsom said of Salazar, adding that the sheriff is “disgusted by what Ron DeSantis did coming into his jurisdiction under false pretense, deceiving kids, not just adults, by sending them on an airplane to an island, Martha’s Vineyard.” The Democratic governor, who made the comments in an interview with Fox 11 Los Angeles, said that he and Salazar have compared notes. “I find it not only disgraceful, I think there are grounds, not only to investigate but to potentially initiate some form of accountability,” said Newsom. “The sheriff wants to see that from the DA in Texas and we’re pursuing that with the Department of Justice in the state.”

Earlier this month, Salazar’s office revealed that it had asked a Texas district attorney to file charges over the Martha’s Vineyard relocation but did not name any suspects. “The charge filed is unlawful restraint and several accounts were filed, both misdemeanor and felony,” the office said. “At this time, the case is being reviewed by the DA’s office.”