'I plead with you for mercy': Illinois Gov. Pritzker calls Greg Abbott 'callous' for sending migrants in winter weather

Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker sent a scathing letter to Texas Governor Greg Abbott requesting that he stop sending illegal immigrants to Chicago, while also calling the Texan "callous" and accusing him of putting peoples' lives at risk.

Pritzker sent the letter while also taking out a full-page ad in the Austin American-Statesman containing the same text.

"You are now sending asylum seekers from Texas to the Upper Midwest in the middle of winter — many without coats, without shoes to protect them from the snow," Pritzker wrote, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "While action is pending at the federal level, I plead with you for mercy for the thousands of people who are powerless to speak for themselves," he added.

The Illinois governor then accused Abbott of putting the lives of children and families at risk.

"Please, while winter is threatening vulnerable people’s lives, suspend your transports and do not send more people to our state."

"Your callousness, sending buses and planes full of migrants in this weather, is now life-threatening to every one of the arrivals," Pritzker continued. "Hundreds of children’s and families’ health and survival are at risk due to your actions."

The governor also wrote that Abbott had "no interest in working on bipartisan solutions to the border crisis because that would put an end to [his] cruel political game."

Pritzker's accusations did not yield great results from Governor Abbott's office, who responded to the letter by noting that the illegal immigrants sent to Chicago signed a consent waiver to go to the destination.

As reported by the State Journal-Register, Abbott's office mocked Pritzker's once "proud" declaration of being welcoming to illegal migrants.

"Governor Pritzker was all too proud to call Illinois 'the most welcoming state in the nation' until Governor Abbott began transporting migrants to Chicago," said Abbott spokesman Andrew Mahaleris.

Mahaleris also noted that Texas too is having its share of inclement weather.

"Instead of complaining about migrants sent from Texas, where we are also preparing to experience severe winter weather across the state, Governor Pritzker should call on his party leader to finally do his job and secure the border — something he continues refusing to do,” the spokesman added.

"Until President Biden steps up and does his job to secure the border, Texas will continue transporting migrants to sanctuary cities to help our local partners respond to this Biden-made crisis."

Chicago has received a reported 35,000 illegal immigrants since the transports began, including nearly 4,500 people who have arrived on flights.

Around 14,500 migrants are living in 28 shelters.

Pritzker has noted that the state has been "trying to prevent those companies from leasing their planes to the state of Texas."

However, he admitted that he cannot "tell a group, a people, or an aircraft that it can’t come somewhere."

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