Texas Stops Migrant Bus Program Amid Decline

Texas Governor Greg Abbott's busing program for migrants has faced a significant decline, with no buses sent out of the state in July 2023, despite his commitment made at the Republican National Convention to continue the initiative until the border is 'secure'. Data from the Texas Division of Emergency Management indicates a drastic drop in bus trips following President Biden's executive action that limited asylum applications, which took effect on June 4, resulting in a lack of migrants available for transport. Abbott previously sent 95 buses with 4,281 migrants in July 2022, but the number has since diminished drastically due to reduced migrant crossings. Local officials and shelter operators have confirmed that there are not enough migrants to fill the buses, leading to their idle status. This shift in the busing program has diminished its effectiveness as a political tool for Abbott, who has transported over 120,000 migrants to Democratic-led cities since the program's inception in 2022. The circumstances challenge Abbott's narrative and call into question the sustainability of his busing strategy in the current political climate.