Abbot sends busload of 42 Latin American migrants to the self-declared 'sanctuary' Los Angeles

Texas Gov Greg Abbott has sent a busload of 42 Latin American migrants to Los Angeles, the first such transport there, opening another front in the war between Republican border states and Democrat-run cities.

The migrants, mostly adults and some children from Honduras, Venezuela, and elsewhere, disembarked at LA Union Station on Wednesday evening, and were reportedly being cared for by city agencies and charitable organizations.

The first such bus to LA follows a pattern of Republican governors transporting migrants from Florida, Texas, and Arizona to liberal enclaves, such as New York City, Washington, Chicago, and even the island, Martha's Vineyard.

Officials and volunteers deliver diapers, supplies and toys to the St. Anthony Croatian Catholic Church where migrants have been transported in Los Angeles,

People seeking asylum speak with law enforcement after illegally crossing the Rio Grande into the US at Eagle Pass, Texas, this week

Abbot, a Republican, said his state's 'small border towns remain overwhelmed and overrun by the thousands of people illegally crossing into Texas from Mexico' and blamed the Biden administration for not securing the border. 

'Los Angeles is a major city that migrants seek to go to, particularly now that its city leaders approved its self-declared sanctuary city status,' Abbot said in a statement.

'Our border communities are on the frontlines of President Biden's border crisis, and Texas will continue providing this much-needed relief until he steps up to do his job and secure the border.'

Texas has bussed more than 21,600 migrants out of state since last spring, Abbot's office said.

LA Mayor Karen Bass, a Democrat, condemned the transfer as 'a despicable stunt that Republican Governors have grown so fond of.'

Jorge Mario Cabrera of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, who spoke to several migrants, said they had spent 23 hours on a bus, some without food or water. One migrant had an immigration appointment in New York

'They are being fed; they're taking shelters; they're talking to attorneys,' said Cabrera.

'These are migrants that have been allowed by the US to enter because they have credible fears. They have not yet received asylum.'

Mayor Bass said she had instructed city departments to prepare to accept migrants from out of state, after Republican governors began sending asylum-seekers to Democratic states in recent months.

St Anthony's Croatian Parish Center in Los Angeles is housing 42 migrants seeking asylum, including children

Record numbers of migrants have crossed the US-Mexico border as pandemic-era restrictions ended last month

'This did not catch us off guard, nor will it intimidate us,' Bass said in a statement.

'Los Angeles is not a city motivated by hate or fear and we absolutely will not be swayed or moved by petty politicians playing with human lives.'

The migrants were receiving help at St. Anthony's Croatian Catholic Church near downtown.

Many Republicans, including Abbott, have slammed the Biden administration's border policies, saying they have led to an influx of migrants that overwhelmed border towns. 

Record numbers of migrants have crossed the US-Mexico border as pandemic-era restrictions ended last month.

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew groups of migrants from border states to Sacramento, California, at taxpayer expense. Last fall, Florida flew 49 Venezuelans to the upscale Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard.

Agencies contributed to this report.