Convenience Big Store: Abbott’s migrant busing program hits roadblock

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Migrant busing slows

Despite Gov. Greg Abbott's insistence that he's going to keep busing migrants from the Texas border to cities with Democratic mayors, data from his office shows a dramatic drop in the program over the last six months as those cities have fought back in court and in the political arena.

That drop mirrors declining border crossings in the same period as Mexico has become more aggressive in blocking migrants from getting to Texas.

In the second half of 2023, Abbott's busing program sent about 77,000 migrants to six U.S. cities with Democratic mayors. But over the last six months, that number fell to about 17,000, and three cities are no longer getting bused migrants at all.

Abbott continues to tout the program to Republican audiences as he tries to build up his national political profile at a time when he's getting more frequent mentions as a potential running mate to former President Donald Trump. Last month in Dallas, he received a rousing ovation from thousands of attendees at the National Rifle Association convention when he talked about keeping the buses rolling into northern cities, particularly New York.

And in a speech in New York in April, Abbott said he has no plans to stop the busing program despite increasing legal challenges.

But even as Abbott was saying those words, the program was hitting legal roadblocks, particularly in New York City, which had been receiving the most migrants through the program.

More on the declining numbers and the legal fight in New York in my latest story here.

Jeremy Wallace, Texas politics reporter

jeremy.wallace@houstonchronicle.com

Who's up, who's down

Up: Eric Adams.

Clearly, there are a lot of reasons why Gov. Greg Abbott is sending fewer buses with migrants to New York City. But Mayor Eric Adams is sure to find some solace in knowing his lawsuit against the bus companies for carrying out Abbott's plan has caused many of the charter bus firms to halt the program to his city until the case is resolved.

Down: Harris County.

The Supreme Court of Texas on Friday ruled against Harris County's new guaranteed income pilot program, continuing a preliminary pause that prevents the county from sending out checks to low-income households while Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's lawsuit challenging the program winds its way through the court system.

What do you think? Hit reply and let me know.

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What else I'm reading

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