In a keynote address at the New York Republican Party's annual gala, Texas Governor Greg Abbott vowed to continue bussing illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities within the United States until a new president is elected. The statement came just hours after New York City Mayor Eric Adams criticized Abbott's handling of the ongoing immigration crisis and offered him a complimentary stay at one of the city's migrant shelters.

During his speech, Abbott expressed his astonishment at Mayor Adams' complaints, stating that what New York City receives in terms of illegal immigrants is only a fraction of what Texas deals with daily. The Texas governor explained that he initiated the bus transportation of migrants to sanctuary cities around the nation in response to concerns expressed by local officials in Texas, who found themselves overwhelmed with the number of migrants being dropped off by federal authorities.

Initially, Abbott planned to bus the migrants solely to Washington, D.C., to showcase the chaos and high costs to President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who had not yet visited the border. However, Abbott shifted his focus to New York City after Mayor Adams criticized his handling of the issue. Despite clarifying that migrants were not being sent to New York City by Texas authorities, Abbott decided to turn rhetoric into reality.

Abbott argued that President Biden's policies had created a dangerous and chaotic situation in Texas, which he referred to as ground zero for the broken border policy. He praised the actions taken by former President Donald Trump to curb illegal immigration, actions that he claimed had been undone by Biden's administration.

The Texas governor also challenged Biden's assertion that he needed Congress to address the issue, accusing him of either lying or lacking knowledge on the matter. Abbott stressed that the executive branch had the authority and obligation, with a mandate from Congress, to deny illegal entry into the United States, something he believed the Biden administration was failing to do.

Prominent Republicans, including House GOP Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik and Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, were in attendance at the gala. Stefanik emphasized that securing the border would be a central focus for Republicans in upcoming elections.

Prior to Abbott's visit to New York City, Mayor Adams criticized the governor for his handling of the migrant crisis and offered him a stay at one of the city's humanitarian emergency response and relief centers. Abbott dismissed Adams' offer as nothing more than a gimmick during an appearance on Fox News Channel's "Hannity."

As New York City continues to grapple with the influx of migrants, the local government projects spending a staggering $10.6 billion on supporting migrants by the summer of 2025.

Governor Abbott's remarks at the gala highlight the ongoing tension between Republican-led states and the Biden administration regarding immigration policies. With the border crisis showing no signs of abating, the issue is likely to remain a prominent topic in political discussions leading up to the next presidential election.