Migrant Bus From Texas Arrives in Philadelphia

A bus carrying migrants seeking asylum arrived in Philadelphia on Wednesday morning after being sent by officials in Texas, NBC10 reported.

Volunteers greeted the migrants who arrived, giving them blankets, clothing and other welcoming materials. The health of those departing from the bus was also checked as they were taken to a welcoming center in the city.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who has been sending buses with thousands of migrants to sanctuary cities such as New York; Washington, D.C.; and Chicago, announced on Tuesday that these migrants were leaving his state for Philadelphia, according to NBC10.

Abbott has sent the buses to Democratic-led cities as a way to highlight what he says is inaction by the Biden administration over high numbers of migrants crossing on the southern border.

Although critics have slammed the move as a political stunt, Texas voters last week handily reelected Abbott after he made a number of hardline immigration measures the main message of his campaign.

A spokesperson for Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said they had been told last week that some 30 asylum seekers were expected to travel from Texas to Philadelphia, but said, "Texas officials have not coordinated with local officials."

Instead, the spokesperson said, some information about the arriving migrants had been reported to officials in Philadelphia from community partners, although it was unsure how many migrants to expect.

Philadelphia leaders and 12 partner organizations met Saturday to prepare emergency shelter, food, and clothing for the migrants.

Several nonprofit organizations, including the Nationalities Services Center and HIAS Pennsylvania, agreed to offer legal services to the migrants.

Steven Larin of the Nationalities Service Center said migrants are eligible to apply for work permits about half a year after arriving in the U.S., but his organization was trying to quicken the process so they can become self-sufficient sooner, NBC10 reported.

City Councilmember Helen Gym, who greeted the migrants as they arrived, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that "seeking asylum is a human right."

Gym added: "Our country has always welcomed people seeking refuge here, and we have flourished because of that. … our city and country are strongest when we embrace and welcome people searching for a better life."

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