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* Gov. Pritzker said this yesterday about Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s sending people seeking asylum to Illinois…
At the staff level, our staffs have been in contact with one another. But they have been wholly uncooperative in Texas. They are trying to sow chaos around the country, not just here in Chicago.
* Tina Sfondeles called Texas…
The Texas Republican’s office in turn told the Sun-Times Pritzker and his staff “have at no point made any effort to reach out to Governor Abbott or his office.” […]
But Pritzker’s office countered that Illinois Emergency Management Agency head Alicia Tate-Nadeau has made repeated efforts to reach Abbott’s emergency management director, including phone calls, voice mail messages and a letter emailed on Thursday morning.
The Democratic governor’s administration provided a copy of that letter to the Sun-Times. It was sent to W. Nim Kidd, who serves as chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management.
The letter requests that a liaison officer be able to work with the Texas Department of Emergency Management to provide demographics and population of those on the buses, departure and arrival times and “anypertinent information related to overall medical disposition.”
* WGN…
WGN Investigates has learned several dozen of the migrants Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sent to Chicago have now been relocated to a hotel in the suburbs without advance warning to the local mayor.
“I am concerned neither the village administrator nor I were told about this,” Burr Ridge Mayor Gary Grasso told WGN. “We want to know: Why Burr Ridge?”
Just days ago, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot blasted Abbott for treating the migrants like “cargo” and not providing her with advance notice they were arriving.
“My frustration comes from the actions of the governor of Texas,” Lightfoot said Sunday, when the first bus load of 50 migrants arrived. “There could be a level of coordination and cooperation, but he chooses to do none of those things and instead tries to send human beings — not cargo, not freight — human beings across the country to an uncertain destination.” […]
The governor’s spokesperson issued the following statement:
The state is working with our partners at the City of Chicago and Cook County along with advocacy organizations to welcome those seeking asylum in the United States and provide them stability as they work to build a new life in Illinois. The state has a prior relationship with the hotel being used in the suburbs and their staff has done amazing work welcoming refugees and asylum seekers before, so it is interesting that local officials are choosing this specific instance to gripe to the press about this specific group of asylum seekers that consists of about 30 families. Gov. Pritzker has made it clear that Illinois is welcoming state and xenophobia has no home here.
Um, the hotel is in DuPage County.
* Fox News is making a big deal out of this seeming hypocrisy. But there’s a huge difference here. Texas is busing migrants to Chicago and publicly dumping them at Union Station without care…
Sources told the Sun-Times Texas officials opted to drop off the immigrants at the very public Union Station, instead of a welcoming center, where local officials had implored bus operators to send them.
Burr Ridge doesn’t have to do anything because the migrants are being brought directly to a welcoming center with experience dealing with this sort of thing. They’re not being dumped at some random bus station, where the town would have to expend finite resources to handle the influx. It isn’t remotely the same thing.
Still, a heads up might’ve been nice.
…Adding… The state also housed Afghan refugees in that hotel and not a peep was heard from Mayor Grasso or Fox News.
posted by Rich Miller
Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 10:59 am
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Its the same. Jordan just tweeted about wanting advance notice to prepare and gave none. They should expect criticism.
Comment by Bolingbrook party of 7 Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:20 am
Saying something is the same doesn’t make it so. Rich clearly pointed out some differences.
Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:23 am
Overall Abbott seems to be winning by painting the picture that disorder at the border isn’t about his attitude, but about the federal government not doing enough to make dealing with the number of migrants orderly.
Comment by Blake Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:27 am
===Its the same===
You clearly have reading comprehension issues. Maybe take some time off.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:34 am
How is Gov. Abbott any different from any other coyote? He’s taking people who haven’t passed through the immigration system and sending them to new locations in the country.
Comment by Socially DIstant Watcher Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:34 am
What a pompous statement from the governor’s spokesperson. Using the word “gripe” when their concerns are valid then playing down the number of asylum seekers when all the while every Illinois politician treated a couple of busloads as the greatest atrocity the state has ever known.
Either the state can or cannot properly manage these migrants. Pick one.
Comment by City Zen Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:47 am
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.” I guess Texas is implementing that secession plan.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:48 am
Some kind of caring for the least of these, and immigrants, by the party of Christian values. And on top of that, using them as a political weapon. An angel of God told Joseph to take the baby Jesus and Mary to Egypt to escape Herod who wanted to slay the child. Did he ask others if it’s okay to escape impending death, or to move among others without their permission? It’s stated very clearly that immigrants must be cared for. These people demonize and build walls.
Comment by Grandson of Man Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:48 am
Hey if you don’t like this, encourage the President to secure the border and enforce the rule of law. Why is that so hard to understand? Dem governors and mayors need to tell the President, the national leader of their party, that his policies are causing this. Otherwise own their sanctuary city status and welcome the busses with open arms.The border chaos has come to Dem run cities and now it’s panic time? Time for New York and Chicago to deal with the same thing El Paso is dealing with. We’re all in this together right?
Comment by The Abyss Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:51 am
== How is Gov. Abbott any different from any other coyote? ==
Yikes. Fair question, methinks.
Comment by XonXoff Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:53 am
You’re doing exactly what Abbot wants, complaining about lack of cooperation because this how it’s being perceived with officials in Texas with Biden.
If you told me six years ago something like this would happen I’d say you are crazy, but it’s the new American politics today.
Comment by Almost the Weekend Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 11:55 am
===tell the President, the national leader of their party, that his policies are causing this.===
No.
Governor Abbott chose to bus folks.
Are you saying Abbott made no choice?
===thing El Paso is dealing with===
Narrator: The Mayor of El Paso identifies as a Democrat.
Did you get *every* FoxNews talking point in?
===We’re all in this together right?===
… and yet you don’t want any of them in this country at all?
See you in church.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:01 pm
enforce the rule of law Where have we heard this before? Is there a border wall in Chicago or New York? I don’t see those Governor’s or Mayor’s saying we have a problem with the homeless so let’s bus them down to Texas where they have more space for them. No they suck it up and deal with it. This isn’t a rule of law issue this a political agenda issue. Stop trying to make anything else.
Comment by Club J Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:03 pm
Lightfoot said she welcomes migrants and even offered to pay for the bus trips.
Then, a few days later, she throws a fit. Isn’t Chicago a sanctuary city?
Comment by Pujols for President Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:10 pm
===Then, a few days later, she throws a fit===
You’re not as clever as you think you are.
Comment by Rich Miller Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:15 pm
Information sharing/courtesy calls have become less frequent among government officials. I suspect this is due to staffing/workload issues, political divisiveness or lack of institutional knowledge on how things should be done. As Rich noted in another posting, “do better.”
Of course, this entire issue is due to a political stunt by Abbott.
Comment by Norseman Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:17 pm
Governor Abbott is a terrible human being.and telling bus drivers not to alert NYC officials when a bus was arriving was the first sign that his intention is to be disruptive, to not care for people, and to stunt.
Comment by Amalia Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:45 pm
Chicago and Cook County should have housed them within their jurisdictions; not another county. Otherwise if they are not legal immigrants/asylum seekers/etc under various Federal laws Burr Ridge has every right to notify CPB of the situation. And yes, LL should have made sure notifications and support/supervision of the people was done by the City, not the towns the people were sent to. As the late Harold Washington said it: “It’s hubris” on LL’s part.
Comment by thisjustinagain Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:45 pm
Perhaps the ISP should impound these buses for a VERY thorough mechanical safety inspection before the operators can return home to Dixie. A bit of well deserved cost may make them a little more cooperative about state desired drop off points on any future runs.
Comment by former southerner Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:50 pm
===if they are not legal immigrants/asylum seekers/etc under various Federal laws===
They are legal asylum seekers. They have a legal right to remain in the US until their cases are heard. Try to keep up.
Comment by 47th Ward Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:51 pm
==tell the President, the national leader of their party, that his policies are causing this.==
Were you saying the same thing during the administration of GW Bush, himself a former Governor of Texas? The number of crossings were similar while the US population was ~20% smaller and the economy was 50% smaller.
Comment by supplied_demand Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:52 pm
This is a messy situation. And all because of awful communication between different actors. And why is Chicago sending migrants as a sanctuary city to suburban communities?
Comment by Levois J Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:58 pm
@ The Abyss: Nobody’s panicking; they’re expressing disgust and dismay at the inhumane (and unscriptural) treatment of immigrants by Texas politicians who purport to represent Christianity.
Comment by Crispy Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 12:59 pm
“And why is Chicago sending migrants as a sanctuary city to suburban communities?”
I think because of this: “The state has a prior relationship with the hotel being used in the suburbs and their staff has done amazing work welcoming refugees and asylum seekers before,”
Comment by Proud Sucker Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 1:03 pm
Maybe Bailey should be asked how he would handle this situation if he were Governor. Probably give them a Mountain Dew and then back on the bus for some other state with a Democratic governor. Any with CDLs could go to Clay County to help out with harvest at Bailey “Family” Farms since it looks like JB is going to be a no show.
Comment by MoralMinority Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 1:49 pm
Fox News and Republicans are outraged each December over some crèche issue. Yet, when strangers arrive at our border and are treated poorly by PoTUS45 or the Texas governor, it’s crickets. Last I checked, Jesus said nothing about celebrating his birthday but quite a bit about our obligation to care for the strangers we encounter at our door and on the road.
Comment by Pot calling kettle Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 2:04 pm
Matthew 25:35 “I was a stranger and you put me on a bus and shipped me out of your state.” King Maga Version.
Comment by West Side the Best Side Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 2:51 pm
Sad that the good folks of the city don’t have the same protections the newly bussed here have
Comment by Curious george Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 3:29 pm
===Sad===
Your gibberish makes no sense to rights. Given you likely can’t explain what rights are different, likely your mouth breathing here only reminds… it’s not a lot the rule of law, but the idea of the law is the cloak used for anger towards our fellow man.
Happy Friday.
Comment by Oswego Willy Friday, Sep 9, 22 @ 3:37 pm