Another bus carrying migrants arrived in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, making it the 20th arrival since June.
“A bus with migrants from Texas arrived around 1:45 p.m. today at Union Station,” stated Mayor Karen Bass’ office. “This is the 20th bus to arrive. The city has been working with various departments, the county, nonprofit organizations, and faith partners to implement the plan set in motion earlier this year. As soon as we were aware of the bus yesterday, we activated our plan.”
Regarding Friday’s arrival of three buses with 109 migrants, Bass criticized Governor Greg Abbott for endangering vulnerable lives by providing limited food and water during the multi-day bus journey to Los Angeles.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights confirmed the arrival of 27 asylum-seekers without children on Saturday, without specifying their countries of origin.
Although the collective anticipated 109 migrants to arrive on Friday, they only assisted 65. Some migrants may have been picked up by their families or sponsors, while others left immediately after arriving at Union Station.
Out of the 65 migrants, 16 were children and 35 were family units—migrants who traveled with a spouse, partner, or child. Additionally, 36 were female and 29 were male.
According to CHIRLA, a member of the L.A. Welcomes Collective, one third of all migrants arriving in Los Angeles by bus have been children.
“We receive the migrants in California—we have received over 434,000 since 2019—and integrate them into society. They, in turn, make positive contributions to our way of life. California is an immigrant state, and that will not change,” stated CHIRLA on X.
As another member of the collective, the Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice, learned about Friday’s buses late in the morning, they struggled with resource allocation for greeting migrants with dignity and respect, assisting them in reuniting with family members, and connecting with sponsors.
“It is abhorrent and cruel for Gov. Abbott to send tired, hungry, and desperate human beings on a 30-hour bus ride without ensuring their care, safety, and destination,” wrote CHIRLA on X. “It is evident that he is attempting to disrupt our efforts, but we will persevere.”
Jorge-Mario Cabrera, CHIRLA’s communications director, revealed that since June, one-third (35%) of migrants arriving in Los Angeles by bus from Texas have been children—a reason why the collective condemns Abbott’s actions.
Cabrera also mentioned that some migrants told them that Los Angeles was not their ultimate destination—they were simply instructed to board the bus. Many of them had not eaten in three days.
Typically, the collective receives advance notice from volunteers, organizations, or good Samaritans about the arrival of a bus. It is easier to predict the routes of buses from Brownsville, but when they are sent from different cities like Del Rio, it becomes difficult to anticipate their arrival time.
Despite the late notification about Friday’s buses, the collective swiftly mobilized and executed a rapid response. They greeted the migrants at the bus station and transported them to the receiving site at St. Anthony’s Croatian Catholic Church in downtown Los Angeles.
All migrants received medical check-ups, and fortunately, no one required urgent medical attention. Although many were anxious, hungry, and exhausted, they remained hopeful for the next leg of their journey—to prove their asylum claims.
Cabrera reiterated that the collective would provide basic necessities for the migrants until they are united with their families or sponsors.
He expressed his hope that the buses will eventually decrease and stop entirely as Governor Abbott is using migrants as “political pawns” without considering their well-being. However, he understands that this is unlikely as the political season unfolds.
Texas Governor Abbott has been organizing these trips under Operation Lone Star, citing overwhelming immigration activity along Texas’ border with Mexico. OLS is a joint operation between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department along the southern border.
In a recent interview with Fox News, Abbott said, “When Democrats are faced with the reality of what Texas deals with daily, they adopt Texas’ approach.”
“We need the president to enforce the immigration laws of the United States of America, period,” he added.
Mayor Bass has expressed frustration over Abbott’s lack of information sharing regarding the shipments. In an interview with KNX, she stated, “We find out about the buses heading our way when they are already en route. We have no prior knowledge of who will be on the bus, the number of people, or their condition upon arrival. Sometimes they haven’t had any food or even enough water.”
The Los Angeles City Council initiated a motion on June 9 to officially establish the city as a sanctuary city.
Last month, the council approved a motion for the City Attorney’s Office to investigate potential crimes related to Abbott’s initial shipment of 42 migrants to Los Angeles on or before June 14.
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