Another bus carrying migrants from Texas arrived in Los Angeles on Monday morning, marking the 12th such arrival since June 14, according to Mayor Karen Bass’ office. The group of 42 people arrived at Union Station at around 7:15 a.m. City and county groups, along with local nonprofit organizations, were prepared to help the asylum seekers after being given about a day’s notice.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) Executive Director, Angelica Salas, stated that they received less than 24 hours’ notice. Since the first bus arrived, a total of 435 migrants from Texas have been welcomed by the city, according to Mayor Bass’ office. These migrants come from various countries worldwide, including Venezuela, Honduras, China, Russia, and Haiti. Some have chosen to stay in California, while others have moved on to different regions.
Salas highlighted that the majority of individuals are children and family units. Additionally, protecting their privacy has been a priority. The asylum seekers have been provided with health screenings, legal information for their immigration cases, and essential items such as clothing, diapers, and baby wipes. Martha Arévalo, the Executive Director of the Central American Resource Center (CARECEN), expressed the relief and safety these individuals feel when received warmly.
During the first bus arrival, the L.A. Welcomes Collective reported that some asylum seekers had not been provided with food or drinks during the trip. Recently, the L.A. City Council voted to investigate whether Texas violated any criminal laws at the time. Texas Governor Greg Abbott has been coordinating these trips under Operation Lone Star, citing overwhelmed border regions as the reason for these actions.
Operation Lone Star is a collaborative effort between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the Texas Military Department along the southern border between Texas and Mexico. According to Abbott, the operation aims to counter the influx of immigrants, illegal drug trade, and human smuggling. Abbott shared on X (formerly Twitter) that as of August 26, the operation has resulted in numerous apprehensions, criminal arrests, felony charges, fentanyl doses seized, and migrants bused to designated Sanctuary Cities.
The L.A. Welcomes Collective representative stated that recent arrivals now report being provided with meals and water during the bus rides from Texas to California. This ongoing humanitarian response is made possible through the support of local nonprofits, agencies, and the public.
Father Fufa Wakuma, the Associate Pastor at St. Gertrude the Great Catholic Church, emphasized the importance of providing support to these newcomers who may be unfamiliar with their new surroundings. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles City Council continues to investigate if human trafficking is involved after the arrival of the eighth bus with migrants from Texas.
Governor Abbott criticized President Biden for not securing the border, stating that “Texas secures the border in Pres. Biden’s absence.” He argued that due to Biden’s refusal to secure the border, Texas’ small border towns are overwhelmed by the thousands of individuals crossing into Texas from Mexico. Abbott urged the President to take action and secure the border, highlighting Los Angeles as a sought-after destination due to its self-declared sanctuary city status.
The Los Angeles City Council approved a motion to formally establish the city as a sanctuary city on June 9. Additionally, they recently approved a motion for the City Attorney’s Office to investigate potential crimes committed during or before June 14 when Governor Abbott sent the first shipment of 42 migrants to Los Angeles.
(Original content by KABC and City News Service, Inc.)