TEXAS —  Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sent some states into a frenzy, having to accommodate migrants bused from the Lone Star State. Critics have called it a “political scheme.” According to Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, his state has received more than 500 asylum seekers since Aug. 31.

What You Need To Know

  • Texas this year has been busing migrants on a voluntary basis to Democrat-led cities and states, including New York, Washington, DC, and Illinois

  • Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on Wednesday declared an emergency disaster in his state in order to mobilize resources for arriving migrants. Those resources include food, shelter, health screenings and transportation 

  • Abbott's busing program, which has cost millions of dollars, has been criticized by some as a political stunt ahead of the November election. A recent poll identified immigration and border security as the most important issue to Texas voters 

  • Pritzker has called on Texas to communicate with Illinois in order to "stop the chaos"

Gov. Pritzker declared an emergency disaster on Sept. 14 to extend assistance for the dropped-off migrants. Seventy-five members of the Illinois National Guard will ensure state resources are available to them. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA) and other state agencies, in correspondence with the City of Chicago, Cook County and other local governments, will make sure they all get what they need — transportation, emergency shelter and housing, food, health screenings, medical assessments, treatments, etc.

“We are coordinating with local and county emergency management officials who stand ready to provide assistance as we coordinate and support this complex operation,” said Alicia Tate-Nadeau, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency (IEMA). “It is mission critical that we track any and all available resources and services for asylum seekers as they start a new life here in the U.S.”

IEMA, the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) are also included in the statewide response. IEMA has set up a Unified Area Command in Chicago to deploy quickly resources in support of the operations as well.

Pritzker’s proclamation is to make certain that the state of Illinois has enough capacity to take on the steady flow of migrants coming in under Abbott’s orders. Many of them are from Central and South America.

“Today, I signed a disaster proclamation allowing the state to speed up the procurement of the immediate resources needed to help Chicago, Cook County, and other jurisdictions provide humanitarian assistance to the asylum seekers who are being sent to our state with no official advance notice by the governor of Texas,” said Pritzker. “Let me be clear: while other states may be treating these vulnerable families as pawns, here in Illinois, we are treating them as people.”

The two recently got into a war of words, with Abbott and his office criticizing Illinois Democrats for being “hypocrites” in passing off the migrants to cities led by Republicans, according to an ABC-affiliate Chicago station.

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot promised to be of help to the asylum seekers and find a housing solution, while calling the practice of busing migrants “racist.” After boarding them up on CTA buses to put them in a hotel in Elk Grove Village, it caused some confusion among other Illinois leaders due to Chicago's "sanctuary city" jurisdiction. Elk Grove Mayor Craig Johnson said he was initially given very little information of this plan.

Lightfoot apologised to Johnson, saying the state was in charge. Both promised to coordinate better in the future. 

Abbott’s press secretary, Renae Eze, called out the state’s “hypocrisy,” stating that it was now on full display for everyone to see. Pritzker fired back, calling Abbott’s “political game” cruel.

With the state of Illinois now funding the hotel bills for migrants, they’re in need of additional help to ready the necessary resources.

“We know that many of these resilient asylum seekers have had difficult journeys to reach Chicago,” said Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) Director Dr. Sameer Vohra. “IDPH is working closely with our partners in Chicago, Cook County, and other local governments, as well as state agency partners, to ensure that asylum seekers both receive appropriate initial health care screening and access to important vaccinations and treatments. Our goal is to ensure that these individuals, children, and families receive the services they need to stay healthy.”

Many of these migrants fleeing dangerous situations require medical care, including pre-natal care for pregnant women; treatment for malnourishment, dehydration, and asthma in children; foot injury and wound care; vaccinations; and chronic health condition management. Illinois’ press release also expresses the need for mental health assessments and care from the traumatic trek across the border. 

Pritzker said Abbott has not given Illinois or the City of Chicago any advanced notice or coordination plan. Migrant buses have been routed to stop at Union Station in downtown Chicago, although state and city officials in Illinois have requested that they be sent to Welcome Centers.

According to a news release, Pritzker has persistently asked Texas to communicate with his office to stop the chaos he said is manufactured by Abbott.