In a bold move Texas Governor Greg Abbott has expanded his controversial strategy of transporting migrants to sanctuary cities, this time sending a flight carrying 120 migrants to Chicago, as reported by Fox News.

This action marks a significant escalation from Abbott’s previous approach of bussing migrants, a tactic he initiated in April 2022 to alleviate pressure on Texas border towns and to challenge the federal government’s immigration policies under President Biden.

The flight, originating from El Paso, landed at Chicago’s O’Hare airport on Tuesday evening.

According to Abbott’s office, all migrants onboard signed voluntary waivers, mirroring the protocol followed for the bus transports.

This new phase in Abbott’s plan comes amid ongoing tension between Texas and sanctuary cities, with Chicago notably launching lawsuits against companies involved in transporting these migrants and threatening to impound busses.

Since the start of his initiative, over 82,900 migrants have been transported to various sanctuary cities, including Washington, D.C., New York City, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles.

Abbott defends his actions as providing “vital relief” to overwhelmed border communities and vows to continue until the Biden administration takes decisive steps to secure the border.

However, this strategy has sparked fierce criticism, with opponents labeling it an “illegal” political stunt.

Chicago Mayor Johnson vehemently criticized Abbott for the chaos he alleges is being caused by these transports.

Johnson highlighted the plight of the migrants – many of whom are in a state of distress – and the additional strain they place on cities like Chicago, already grappling with issues like homelessness and unemployment.

In a pointed rebuttal, Abbott’s press secretary, Andrew Mahaleris, accused Mayor Johnson of dishonesty, arguing that if Johnson truly cared for these migrants, he would focus less on criticizing Texas and more on urging President Biden to secure the border.

Sanctuary cities like Chicago, which have long professed open-border ideologies, are now confronted with the practical challenges of implementing these policies and they apparently don’t like it one bit.

Cities and states that have historically advocated for less restrictive immigration policies and declared themselves sanctuaries for migrants are now facing the realities of such stances.

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The underlying issue, however, remains the chaotic situation at the U.S.-Mexico border, where record numbers of migrant encounters continue to surge.

The most recent data points to over 12,600 encounters in a single day, a figure that starkly illustrates the ongoing challenges at the border.