A new bus of migrants sent from Texas arrived in Philadelphia on Monday. The bus contained 46 people, 29 of whom had already been checked and sent to a detention center in the city.
The first migrant bus bound for Philadelphia arrived last week. Texas has sent more than 13,500 migrants to New York, DC, Chicago and now Philadelphia, according to a tweet from Texas Governor Greg Abbott.
Most of the arrivals were men, from Nicaragua, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Panama and the Dominican Republic, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“We proudly welcomed and successfully assisted asylum seekers last week and continue to do so as needed. These people are looking for a brighter and more hopeful life in America and so it is our obligation and moral duty to welcome them,” Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said in a press release.
Mr. Abbott’s office continued to say that the lack of federal migrant mitigation efforts is the main factor driving the bus program.
“Until the federal government fulfills its obligation to protect Americans, Texas law enforcement and the Texas Military Department will continue to identify ways to protect our communities from illegal border crossings and transnational criminal activity. “Abbott spokesperson Kim Carmichael told Fox News.
Pro-migrant organizations on the ground in Philadelphia assisted the arrivals once they got off the bus, providing them with food, clothing and other aid.
“All of these organizations made us feel really welcome,” bus driver Kevin Arvoledo, who came with his wife and daughter, told the Inquirer in Spanish.
