Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has accused Texas Governor Greg Abbott of sending a bus of migrants to the California city during Tropical Storm Hilary. Bass expressed her outrage on social media, referring to the act as “despicable” and “evil.” The Mayor criticized Abbott for sending families and toddlers to Los Angeles knowing they would have to drive through the storm.
The bus reportedly departed from Brownsville, Texas, despite warnings about the impending storm. This incident occurred as part of Operation Lone Star, an effort by Texas to relieve overwhelmed communities by transporting migrants to Democratic-controlled cities across the U.S. that have sanctuary statuses.
Abbott’s office has not yet responded to requests for comment on the accusations. It is worth noting that earlier this month, the Texas Division of Emergency Management confirmed the death of a 3-year-old child aboard one of the buses transporting migrants to Chicago.
Meanwhile, Tropical Storm Harold made landfall on the South Texas coast, with wind gusts of up to 50 mph expected along the U.S.-Mexico border. The storm is predicted to bring heavy rainfall and poses a risk of flooding in South Texas.
In response to the storm, Governor Abbott directed the Texas Division of Emergency Management to increase the readiness level of the State Operations Center to ensure the quick deployment of support and resources to affected communities.
While Tropical Storm Hilary did bring significant rainfall and caused damage in some areas, it spared coastal regions like San Diego, which were initially expected to be at higher risk. So far, there have been no reports of injuries or deaths in connection to the storm or the earthquake that occurred around the same time.
Overall, Bass’s accusations highlight the contentious issue of immigration and the challenges faced by both Texas and California in managing the influx of migrants.