Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott has initiated a new phase in his immigration strategy by sending over 120 migrants from the US-Mexico border to Chicago on Tuesday via plane.

In a statement on X, Abbott said, “Sanctuary city Chicago started obstructing and targeting our busing mission. Texas will now expand our operation to include flights to Chicago. Until [President] Biden steps up to secure the border, we will continue to provide overwhelmed Texas border towns with much-needed relief.”

In reaction to Chicago’s recent enforcement of stricter penalties for buses carrying migrants, Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, criticized Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, stating he is “failing to live up to this city’s ‘Welcoming City’ ordinance by targeting migrant buses from Texas.”

The city of Chicago has documented the arrival of thousands of migrants, with the Windy City’s dashboard tracking asylum-seekers noting that a total of 26,000 migrants have arrived via buses since August 2022 and an estimated 4,252 people by flight since last June.

Abbott’s decision to send flights to Chicago marks an escalation of his previous tactic of sending buses of migrants to sanctuary cities.