A Texas Democratic-led city has approved a $2 million contract with a charter bus company to transport immigrants to other cities. The contract between El Paso, Texas and GoGo Charters LLC was approved by the El Paso City Council on Monday in a 3-1 vote, and the private company will “transport migrants to other cities as needed,” according to WETM. The city, which borders Mexico, has already bused more than 550 migrants out of the city with the charter bus company, according to the report. City buses have taken migrants to bus stations, the airport and shelters in the area. But according to the report, the number of people released from federal immigration detention has increased significantly in the past week as hundreds of immigrants arrived from Venezuela, both of which cannot be deported under Title 42 and they have no US sponsors. TEXAS GOVERNOR’S OFFICE SLAMS WHITE HOUSE AFTER CALLS IMMIGRANTS CARRYING ‘ILLEGAL CARPANT’: ‘HYPOCRETS’ United States border, El Paso, Texas (Kelly Laco/Fox News Digital) The $2 million will be spent over 16 months, and the city is hoping for reimbursement from the Biden administration. City Manager Tony Gonzalez called the situation an “emergency” and said there is simply no money for such circumstances. “This is an emergency situation. We don’t have money set aside for these special circumstances. You’re giving us the ability to spend up to $2 million on this company; that’s all we’re authorized with this company,” Gonzalez said. WHITE HOUSE PRESS CALLS REPUBLICS SENDING IMMIGRANTS TO BLUE STATES ‘ILLEGAL RIDING’ Texas Governor Greg Abbott attends a news conference where he signed Senate Bills 2 and 3 on Capitol Hill on June 8, 2021, in Austin, Texas. ((Photo by Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)) The city council also extended an emergency ordinance put in place to help the needs of immigrants, according to the report. “We knew we had to pay for things that are not in our charter […] so we wanted you to pass this ordinance to enable us to do things like the processing/welcome center, pay for food and water when needed, pay for hotels, pay for transportation,” Gonzalez said. “There is a cost to doing this, several thousand dollars. And when you get into three, four, five charters a day, it adds up.” CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP The report also says El Paso has sent 25 chartered buses since Aug. 23 and added that five more will be sent Monday. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre blamed Republican Gov. Greg Abbott as well as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday for sending migrants to other states across the country. Abbott sent two buses containing 100 migrants to a location near Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence at the Naval Observatory in Washington, DC, on Thursday morning. On Wednesday, Florida Governor Ron DeSandis sent two planeloads of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard. The Biden White House has yet to criticize El Paso. Adam Sabes is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter @asabes10.
