National Republicans were filled with optimism about their electoral prospects in November, even as the influx of migrants at the southern border of Texas continued to shape elections across the country. Despite being thousands of miles away from the border, they remained focused on their campaigns and were hopeful about the upcoming elections.
During the state GOP’s annual gala, Representative Elise Stefanik, a prominent New York Republican, asserted that Joe Biden has transformed every state into a border state. She emphasized that President Trump and the Republicans are committed to securing the border and will triumph in this endeavor.
Stefanik, a potential running mate for Donald Trump’s comeback presidential bid, joined prominent members of her party in celebrating their perceived achievements in border security as they prepare for the upcoming White House and midterm elections in November.
In an interview with POLITICO after the event, she confidently predicted that immigration would become the primary concern in every swing district across the country. The event itself featured notable New York Republicans, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott taking center stage.
During his keynote speech, Abbott seized the opportunity to criticize Democratic New York City Mayor Eric Adams for his handling of the migrant surge in the city.
During the ritzy Manhattan gala, Texas Governor Abbott expressed his surprise at Mayor Adams’ complaints, stating, “What he has is a tiny fraction of what Texas gets every day.” This comment was made in response to the ongoing migrant crisis in New York, where over 185,000 migrants have arrived since 2022. The ballroom where Abbott made this statement was located just blocks away from a hotel that the Adams administration has repurposed as an intake center for these migrants.
Hundreds of attendees, including Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley, gathered at the ritzy event, the state party’s first big gala in five years. Each person paid $1,250 for their ticket.
Abbott and Adams have been in disagreement regarding the Texas governor’s choice to transport migrants from his state to various locations across the country, notably New York City. In response, Adams has criticized Abbott and filed a lawsuit against 17 bus companies based in Texas, seeking over $700 million in damages. Adams has achieved some success in one of the cases.
Abbott emphasized the significant role that migration plays in New York House races. While Democrats have achieved electoral victories by criticizing the GOP’s strict abortion bans in various regions, Republicans in New York are aiming to attract voters by pledging to take a stronger stance on the southern border.
Long Island Democratic Representative, Tom Suozzi, emerged victorious in the February special election by defeating his Republican opponent. During his campaign, he placed a strong emphasis on addressing the issues surrounding the border. Once he took office and was sworn in, Suozzi expressed his belief that Democrats should actively address the challenges at the border.
“I was fully aware of the anger and frustration that people felt regarding the chaotic situation at the border,” remarked Suozzi. “It was imperative for me to address the concerns that I had heard people discussing.”
In his 23-minute speech, Abbott strongly criticized Adams for his alleged failure to prevent the occurrence of tragic incidents involving repeat criminals, such as the recent killing of an on-duty NYPD officer.
Retired police captain Adams, who ran for office on a law-and-order platform, passionately supports law enforcement officers, despite his mixed record in reducing crime and disorder.
The mayor was further aggravated by Abbott’s presence, considering their strained relationship. The governor, whom the mayor has labeled as “morally bankrupt” and a “madman,” was held accountable for worsening the migrant crisis, which has already burdened the city with a staggering cost of over $4 billion. The mayor accused Abbott of deliberately using this crisis to disadvantage cities with Black mayors and criticized him for manipulating people for political gain.
Adams expressed his intention to extend an invitation to him, allowing him to experience firsthand the facilities and services provided by the HERRCs. He emphasized the importance of treating individuals with dignity and respect, a sentiment that should have been demonstrated from the start.
According to Abbott’s office, Texas has transported more than 37,100 migrants to New York City since August 2022. Abbott has expressed no intention of discontinuing this process, stating at the gala, “we will need to continue this approach until we have a new president this November who will ensure the security of the United States of America’s border.”
Abbott went as far as blaming Adams for his own predicament. He pointed out that the city’s liberal immigration policies had led to an influx of migrants who were putting a strain on the already stretched municipal resources.
In a surprising turn of events, the governor revealed that his original intention was to transport the migrants directly to the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C. However, Mayor Adams unexpectedly voiced his disapproval and criticized the governor for sending them to New York City. Despite the governor’s efforts to clarify the situation with City Hall, the criticism persisted, much to Abbott’s disappointment.
He received only lukewarm applause as he continued, “I realized that if I’m going to face criticism, I should also be open to receiving credit.”
Deputy Mayor for Communications Fabien Levy has strongly objected to the portrayal of events in a post on X. He asserts that Abbott’s statement in 2022, where he claimed that they never reached out, is a lie. Levy further states that Abbott was, in fact, transporting migrants to NYC, and only admitted to doing so later on.
“Make sure to keep the receipts, everyone,” he emphasized, sharing a screenshot of an email from August 1, 2022. The email appears to depict a conversation between the director of federal affairs for New York City and an Abbott aide.”
According to a statement from a City Hall spokesperson to POLITICO, there are no plans for a meeting between Adams and Abbott. The spokesperson also mentioned that there has been no outreach from Governor Abbott’s team to the Adams administration. Furthermore, despite calls for coordination since the summer of 2022, there has been no response from the Adams administration.
When Abbott traveled to the city for a breakfast at a conservative think tank last year, he did not meet either of them.
An Adams spokesperson recently stated to POLITICO that instead of inviting Governor Abbott to speak at a gala, they encourage members of the NYGOP to push their far-right Republican colleagues in Congress to pass comprehensive immigration reform. The spokesperson highlighted that this has been blocked for decades and urged for its implementation.
Critics on the left strongly criticized Abbott’s appearance on Thursday night.
According to Murad Awawdeh, the president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition, the Texas governor is labeled as “a racist bigot” who has heartlessly transported asylum-seekers across the nation for the sake of political gain.
Ana María Archila, co-director of the New York Working Families Party, expressed her strong disapproval of Abbott’s presence at the event, stating that it is indicative of the party’s moral decline. In a statement, she made it clear that Abbott is not welcome in New York State.
