Texas Republican Governor Greg Abbott went all out against New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Sunday, criticizing the Democratic mayor for “aiding and abetting” President Joe Biden’s illegal immigration crisis.
Abbott shelled his criticism of Adams during an appearance on Fox News’ “Fox News Sunday,” where he addressed Adams’ criticism of his decision to bus thousands of illegal aliens from Texas to New York City.
Throwing out Adams’ claims that he is using illegal immigrants as pawns in a political duel between him and the Biden administration, Abbott pointed the finger on President Joe Biden, saying that he is “the person who is actually using illegal immigrants as political pawns.”
“Joe Biden has created this open border policy that has allowed illegal immigrants into our country to appeal to and to appease the far leftists in the Democrat Party that people like [Alexandria] Ocasio-Cortez in hopes of trying to win their support while at the same time destroying the country that he’s in charge of. He is the commander-in-chief in charge of national security for our country. Our country is being invaded in ways that put our country at risk because of the political games that Joe Biden has played,” he stated.
Turning to Adams’ culpability in the border crisis, the governor said, “And Mayor Adams is just aiding and abetting that by having a sanctuary city status, welcoming in anybody from across the world to live there or stay there in New York City on the bill of New York City.”
Suggesting that Adams stops “talking boldly about illegal immigration and the migrants that Texas is sending there,” Abbott advises him to “step up and do his own job” of protecting the people of his community as mayor “because look at the dangers in New York City under his watch.”
“You have a police officer who is killed. You have the train system in New York, which is treacherous for travelers. You got police officers attacked in Times Square by illegal immigrants,” he added.
WATCH: @GregAbbott_TX joins the show to discuss the latest news at the U.S. border, arguing that Biden has ‘abandoned’ his responsibility to handle the migrant crisis. pic.twitter.com/g0ZNnMCBW2
— Fox News Sunday (@FoxNewsSunday) April 7, 2024
The Texas governor’s remarks follows his visit to New York City last week for the New York Republican Party’s annual gala, a visit that paved the way for Adams’ criticism. Asked about Abbott’s planned visit at a press conference before the visit, Adams said he would invite Abbott to stay at a migrant shelter so he can see for himself how the city is handling the immigration crisis in contrast with his own handling of the same.
“I’m going to offer him a stay in one of the HERRCs so he can see what he has created and understand how we are treating people with the dignity and respect that he should have shown as well,” Adams stated.
“I’m not quite sure why he’s here and what he’s doing while here, but he’s going to see how you can manage the crisis with the coordination of not one child of families sleeping on the streets of the city of New York. When we coordinate together, we should not displace problems to local municipalities. That is not what executives do. It is unfortunate that he made the decision to do that,” the New York City mayor added.