SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Governor J.B. Pritzker says state and local officials are looking into whether the busing of asylum seekers from Texas to Chicago is a criminal act.
An estimated 500 migrants have been sent to the city with more expected.
Governor Pritzer has been highly critical of Texas shipping people to sanctuary cities and was asked Wednesday if he considers this kidnapping or human trafficking.
“We are still examining and interviewing the folks who have come and listened to their stories about whether or not they willingly got on these buses, knew where they were going and were given the appropriate information,” said Pritzker.
Earlier in the year, GOP Texas Governor Greg Abbott began busing migrants to large northern cities as a way to draw more attention to the humanitarian crisis still plaguing the U.S. southern border.
“Even if someone signed a piece of paper. If it was in English and they don’t speak in English or if it was in Spanish and they don’t read or write, that is not an appropriate way for the Governor of Texas to release himself from liability.”
On Wednesday, Pritzker announced a new disaster declaration releasing state resources, including 75 Illinois National Guard members, to help the City of Chicago and Cook County officials process the arriving migrants.
During the announcement, Pritzker accused Abbott of using people as political pawns.
Abbott has suggested with the migrant busing program, there has not been an appropriate amount of attention paid to the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border from top Democrats holding the reigns of power in Washington D.C. and elsewhere.
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