Texas Governor Greg Abbott has slammed New York City’s Mayor Eric Adams as the illegal immigration row continues to divide Americans.
Abbott, 66, challenged Adams, 63, over his decision to provide migrants in the Big Apple with prepaid credit cards.
The Lone Star State Republican strongly criticises leading Democrats over the handling of the crisis facing the US-Mexico border.
Joe Biden’s first year in the White House witnessed a spike of 1,662,167, before a second surge to 2,214,652 the following year.
Greg Abbott has taken aim at Eric Adams over the migrant crisis
GETTY/REUTERS
Despite not completing the wall, the number of patrol encounters in Donald Trump’s last full year in the Oval Office stood at just 405,036.
He said: “It sounds like insanity is behind it because it really is offensive, it may be the most reprehensible thing that I’ve seen take place over the past 48 hours.”
Abbott added: “What’s going on in New York is outrageous and Americans across the country are angry, not just about what’s going on in New York, but the underlying cause for it, which is Joe Biden’s open border policies.”
The Texas Governor has sent busloads of migrants to the Big Apple over the past year.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
An image of the Texas National Guard on the US-Mexico borderREUTERSMigrants housed at the Roosevelt Hotel will start to receive prepaid credit cards from the city to help them buy food.
The scheme is being run by the New Jersey food company Mobility Capital Finance.
It will start with a group of 500 migrant families in short-term hotel stays and will replace the current food service offered there.
Prepaid credit cards are restricted to bodegas, grocery stores, supermarkets and convenience stores.
Migrants must also sign an affidavit swearing they will only spend the funds on food and baby supplies.
Immigration has returned as a major issue under Joe Biden
REUTERS
Using credit cards to purchase other items could lead to them being kicked off the programme.
The amount on each card will vary depending on the size of the family.
Information about income will also impact the amount available.
A family of four, for instance, could be provided nearly $1,000 each month.
The figure equates to approximately $35 per day for food.
Protest against migrants in New YorkREUTERS
Trump, who is seeking his return to the White House, also denounced Democrats over migrants descending on New York City.
The 45th President suggested he could hold events in the Big Apple as migration could cause a seismic shift in New York.
Trump said: "Do I think we have a chance? New York has changed a lot in the last two years.
"We have migrants all over the street. They are living on Madison Avenue."
He added: "Nobody can believe what's happened to New York. The people of New York are angry. People that would have never voted for me because I'm a Republican.
Donald Trump is campaigning to become US President in 2024
REUTERS
"I mean, they're Democrats. Their parents were Democrats. They would vote for Democrats. I think they're going to vote for me.
"So I think we're going to give New York a heavy shot. They're very unhappy in New York. What's happening? And they're unhappy with the crime. You take a look at the crime in New York, it's at record levels.
"The other thing is, and very importantly, New Jersey, I think New Jersey can be flipped. I think that Virginia can be flipped.
"I think that New Mexico could be flipped. And I think Minnesota could be flipped. And I'm not even sure that everything can't be flipped."