Venezuelan migrant Robert Gonzalez, who arrived in New York City via bus from Texas in late 2022, describes harrowing conditions faced by asylum seekers: \"Pregnant women didn't eat for days. Volunteers couldn't speak Spanish. We were freezing but treated like political props.\"
Over 340,000 migrants have been apprehended under Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star since 2021, with at least 16,000 transported to Democratic-led cities like Washington D.C. and Chicago, according to official state data. The tactic reached new symbolic heights on Christmas Eve 2022 when three migrant buses were intentionally parked outside Vice President Kamala Harris' residence during sub-zero temperatures.
Mainstream outlets including CNN and BBC report migrants often arrive underdressed after surviving dangerous journeys through Central American wilderness and overcrowded detention centers. While Republican leaders frame this as border security enforcement, Democratic mayors condemn it as \"human trafficking disguised as policy,\" creating what NPR calls \"the ultimate partisan showdown.\"
With U.S. Customs and Border Protection reporting 2.76 million migrant encounters in FY2022 alone – a historical high – the crisis underscores deepening divides in American immigration politics. As 2024 elections approach, activists warn vulnerable families risk becoming collateral damage in broader ideological battles.
Reference(s):
Finding True America: Migrants become political pawns in partisan row
cgtn.com
