Texas Governor Greg Abbott launched a busing program in August 2022 to transport migrants from Texas to Washington, D.C., aiming to draw attention to what he perceives as the Biden administration's failure to manage the border crisis.

Abbott believes the upcoming presidential election is critical for U.S. border policy and advocates for a return to Trump's administration for stronger border control.

He argues that his actions have forced the nation to confront the immigration crisis, framing it as a national issue rather than solely a Texas problem.

The impact of Abbott's policies is evident, as border crossings in Texas have plummeted from 117,000 in August 2022 to approximately 28,000 in August 2024.

In response to criticism from New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Abbott expanded his program, sending over 45,000 migrants to New York and other sanctuary cities across the U.S.

Since the program's inception, about 20% of the 210,000 migrants who have passed through New York City's shelter system arrived via Abbott's buses.

The ongoing migrant crisis has strained federal agencies and led to a state of emergency in El Paso, Texas, where as many as 2,400 migrants crossed daily at the peak.

Abbott admitted that his decision to bus migrants to New York City was partly retaliatory, responding to Adams' criticisms and aiming to 'get the credit' for addressing the migrant situation.

Critics, including Mayor Adams, have condemned Abbott's program as a politically motivated tactic that uses migrants as pawns without proper coordination with local governments.

Abbott has stated that he wants to highlight the chaos caused by Biden's border policies and insists on taking the issue directly to leaders in Washington.

The conflict between Abbott and Adams has escalated, with public exchanges including Adams offering Abbott a complimentary stay at a migrant shelter during a New York Republican Party event.

In addition to his busing initiative, Abbott has implemented measures to enhance border security with the Texas National Guard and has faced legal challenges from the Biden administration.