Texas Governor Greg Abbott has threatened to send more buses of migrants to cities, including Washington, D.C., if the Biden administration moves forward with a plan to keep migrants in Texas. This comes as cities like New York City have complained about the influx of migrants heading their way from Texas. Abbott made his statement in response to a report by the Los Angeles Times that described a potential Department of Homeland Security (DHS) policy to track migrants with GPS monitoring devices, such as ankle bracelets, and force them to remain in Texas while their asylum applications are considered. The policy would be an expansion of the Family Expedited Removal Program, which imposes curfews and monitors family units that have traveled to large cities.

The report from the Los Angeles Times also mentioned that the potential policy echoes a Reagan-era plan that forced migrants to stay near the border while their applications were processed. While this approach aligns with conservative arguments for detaining and closely tracking migrants to facilitate quicker deportations, it may face opposition from Republican lawmakers in Texas. The Biden administration, on the other hand, has emphasized its commitment to expanding safe and orderly pathways for migrants to lawfully enter the United States, while imposing consequences on those who fail to use those pathways.

The feud between Texas and the administration over the state's migrant bussing program and floating barriers has been escalating. Texas has been busing migrants to self-declared sanctuary cities, including New York City, since August 2022. New York City Mayor Eric Adams has been vocal about the strain this influx of migrants has placed on the city, warning that it may "destroy New York City." The city has already seen over 100,000 migrants enter its shelter system since last year, and Adams predicts that the situation will only worsen.

Meanwhile, the crisis at the southern border continues. The number of migrant encounters in July reached around 183,000, and several Border Patrol sectors have reached or neared capacity. Republicans, including Abbott, blame the administration's policies for the ongoing crisis. Democrats and the administration, on the other hand, call for more funding and comprehensive immigration reform, which Republicans reject due to the inclusion of a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants already in the U.S.

In addition to the proposed plan to keep migrants in Texas, Abbott's efforts to stem the influx of migrants include floating buoys on the Rio Grande. However, a Texas judge ruled that the buoys must be removed by September. Texas argues that cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles should share the burden of illegal immigration and has bused over 35,000 migrants to these self-declared sanctuary cities. This has overwhelmed many of the targeted cities, leading Democratic mayors to demand more support from their states and the federal government. Los Angeles leaders have even voted to sue Abbott over the bussing program.

Both Texas and the administration are still in the midst of this feud, with neither side showing signs of backing down. The situation not only affects the migrants and the cities they are sent to but also has broader implications for immigration policy and the ongoing crisis at the southern border.