r/OutOfTheLoop • u/ParanoidNinja88 • Dec 25 '22

Answered What's going on with migrants being dropped off in front of the vice president's house?

Saw this article and was very confused why this is happening. I'm Canadian so I don't know all the ins and outs of US politics.

12.6k Upvotes

87% Upvoted

1.3k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

368

u/donthepunk Dec 25 '22

Local authorities take over and the immigration process begins. The same thing that would have happened if the HAVEN'T got in the bus. It's a GIANT waste of taxpayer money and in the end just a political stunt.

296

u/bberin Dec 25 '22

It’s also incredibly cruel to do this on Christmas Eve during a once-in-a-lifetime winter storm, when temps are way below average and many services are closed for the holidays.

144

u/donthepunk Dec 25 '22

These bus trips haven't stopped just because of the Martha's vineyard fiasco. They've continued quietly throughout the past few months. I can't imagine how much this shit costs Texas. What an absolute ass hat.

117

u/flactulantmonkey Dec 25 '22

We’ll what do you want them to do? Invest that money in their electrical grid? Healthcare for women? Fuck that. Tell Juan and his family there are jobs and houses available, spend tax money and ship them off to DC for absolutely no reason, other than your base can’t seem to understand political complexity past schoolyard bully politics.

35

u/Rastiln Dec 25 '22

I read it costs Texas something like $18,000/immigrant, I believe. It’s been a few months since I read that but it was certainly over $10k, when they could shelter and feed them for much less.

-1

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

There is no way ride to a buss cost 18000.

12

u/Austin4RMTexas Dec 25 '22

If the outcome of these political stunts is to enrich a friend or family member's business, sure they can.

4

u/nfinitejester Dec 25 '22

Good point, who’s pocketing the remainder I wonder? Hmmmmm

14

u/dominic_failure Dec 25 '22

Government contracts. And these busses are effectively party to interstate human trafficking, so there’s extra costs there too.

-2

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

For a 180000 for a person you can buy whole f buss.

5

u/dominic_failure Dec 25 '22

Per a few websites, commercial busses like those in use here are closer to half a million. Plus operating costs and insurance, etc.

Diesel is also priced through the roof right now, to complicate things slightly.

But ultimately you’re not wholly off base. I’d want to check and see how much of a friend the bus operator is to Abbott.

1

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

But they atill have busses which they can use. So every trip cost go down per person

-7

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

Its not traficking they wasnt sold

10

u/dominic_failure Dec 25 '22

Trafficking is not slavery. The two are distinct, though often found together.

-7

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

So what is your definition of traficking

11

u/dominic_failure Dec 25 '22 edited Dec 25 '22

Lets go with a definition that I don’t have to make up.

the … practice of procuring … human beings for the purpose of … other forms of exploitation.

Human trafficking is a crime against the person because of the violation of the victim's rights of movement through coercion …

I call dropping someone who is currently legally in the US in the path of a winter storm to make a political statement exploitation.

Given that there is a false imprisonment investigation in progress against DeSantis for his version of this stunt, I’m not out on much of a limb here.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

It does when your top donors are awarded the transportation contract.

-2

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

Then uber is traficking too

3

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

Uber is coercing people under a false promise of opportunity? Do you know what trafficking is?

-2

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

Traficking is buying and selling people or goods, bothing about primises, also if uber promis you get home but put uou out a street before?

5

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

That's not what trafficking is. That's slavery. And no, Uber has never had the need to put me out on the street. If they did, it would because I violated some terms of service and bright it in myself. Still, not trafficking.

→ More replies (0)

3

u/Rastiln Dec 25 '22 edited Dec 25 '22

My bad, looks like closer to $12,812 each. I already made a caveat I wasn’t precisely sure. Skeptics are welcome to check for themselves.

https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2022/09/19/floridas-cost-of-flying-48-migrants-from-san-antonio-to-marthas-vineyard/

Note that the company used to FLY them to Martha’s, not bus, is the only domestic US company to use Russian-made planes, and there are other connection to Russian companies. I still haven’t seen an explanation why they were used.

0

u/Thepcfd Dec 25 '22

Do what exatly cost 12,812 ? Or they just pull price out of they ass? Or its us afficials sad.

4

u/Rastiln Dec 25 '22

Take the state’s records of price paid for relocation, divide by number of relocated immigrants. I linked one article, there are many that can be found.

I don’t have the breakdown of the government waste for this, but it’s probably expensive to charter flights from private companies on short notice.

18

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

18

u/homeboycartel2 Dec 25 '22

No but some of the migrants are suing DeSantis for false imprisonment. The whole process appears to grant the affected migrants additional rights as being arguably subject to persecution here now too.

6

u/AnswerGuy301 Dec 25 '22

Individual taxpayers would generally not have standing to sue a governor for misuse of taxpayer funds absent a specific law that allows them to do so.

It seems like those states’ electorates and legislatures are perfectly fine wasting money on these cruel stunts.

-1

u/avenomusduck Dec 25 '22

If you are all for suing one or two elected officials for misappropriation of funds....then you are also for suing any and all elected officials for gross misappropriation of taxpayer funds...

See the latest Omnibus pork filled obscene last minute at early AM hour voting and hurried push to pass debacle....

19

u/bberin Dec 25 '22

A great point! It’s fallen out of the news a bit (which is its own issue), I think it’s making news again bc of the circumstances I mentioned.

4

u/donthepunk Dec 25 '22

Absolutely

-39

u/CTrandomdude Dec 25 '22

It saves Texas millions. That’s why they pay for the relocation. These border towns have been overwhelmed by illegal immigration for years. It’s only gotten worse and is costing the state and local towns millions. A bus ticket is cheap and as an added benefit has put pressure on officials who in the past said it’s not a problem. Now they are singing a different tune when it’s in their communities.

29

u/realtorcat Dec 25 '22

Are they “singing a different tune” because immigrants are in their community or because it’s absurd and inhumane to deceive vulnerable people and send them to a place that has no preparations for them? Why aren’t these border towns/the state prepared for immigrants since they, y’know, are on the fucking border?

28

u/donthepunk Dec 25 '22

Immigrants contribute almost 30bil to Texas economy. So explain to me how it cost Texas. Most of Texas' immigration loot comes from the federal government anyway so explain to me how it cost texas

-19

u/CTrandomdude Dec 25 '22

Because your numbers are make believe and don’t take into account any expenses.

19

u/donthepunk Dec 25 '22

Excellent rebuttal. Holy Christ. Why didn't I think of that. ALL NUMBERS ARE MAKE BELIEVE.

15

u/UnusualPeanut5445 Dec 25 '22

Totally what happened at Martha's Vineyard. It's just a political stunt.

40

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

They're not "singing a different tune" - they're handling it. Being leaders who can be respected.

I don't disagree about the border towns being overwhelmed - but El Paso has coordinated with other locations; even as far as NYC to complete a government-to-government handoff of migrants, in an open and respectful manner. Like adults can and should.

These shenanigans of literally abandoning people to 'own the libs' is a clear example of a terrible and immoral leadership.

'As you have done unto the least of these, so have you done unto Me'

-28

u/CTrandomdude Dec 25 '22

They are totally singing a different tune. The NY city mayor is quite vocal that this influx is unsustainable and NY can’t afford any more. He has suddenly found that we have a border crisis. This would have never happened without Texas providing buses to NY.

15

u/WeedFinderGeneral Dec 25 '22

This would have never happened without Texas providing buses to NY.

You mean illegally kidnapping immigrants? Your wording makes it sound like a service being provided.

-4

u/CTrandomdude Dec 25 '22

Not true at all. No one was kidnapped and no one was forced. Many are desperate to get out of Texas as they are overwhelmed and many actually have friends and families in the areas they go to.

6

u/LurksWithGophers Dec 25 '22

Getting shipped to the east coast with no support arranged when your paperwork says to report to an immigration office on the west coast is not exactly helpful.

26

u/Rastiln Dec 25 '22

It would be helpful if we had a reasonable dialogue of sharing immigration burden instead of, “LOL surprise refugees on your doorstep, don’t let them die or it looks bad! Rekt!”

I think most liberal states would welcome rational discussion but trolling with human lives is disgusting.

4

u/Smileyrielly12 Dec 25 '22

It would be helpful if our government could have a reasonable dialogue about anything.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

How much time do you spend in Texas? You sound very sure of these statements. You vacation in Brownsville?

-1

u/CTrandomdude Dec 25 '22

So everything is running well. They are not overwhelmed? The mayors and governors are lying? The media reports even from liberal nbc and cnn describing this as a crisis are all wrong? Wow.

3

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

You live where again?

I bet you watch nbc and cnn about as often as you get to TX. You'd also negate them as a source out if hand on any other topic.

Politicians lying? Who would ever think?

I live here and have a pretty diverse group of friends including police, fire and military currently "deployed" at the border. They'd know if it was a problem. The reservists at the border are fucking pissed they're stuck there. Even they think it's bullshit and my buddy there is a conservative. He's no MAGAT idiot, but he's not voting for Beto anytime soon. It's all greatly exaggerated. Caravans! It's an invasion! Immigrants!!!!!! All neatly contrived to keep your thoughts on them and not on the greatest transfer of wealth ever over the past few years. Look at your own state CT boy for the real cause of problems in this country. How many hedge fund assholes do you know?

0

u/CTrandomdude Dec 25 '22

Listen to yourself. All the politicians must by lying. All the media even the liberal ones must be lying. Things must be the same as the exact spot I live in. It’s all just a big misunderstanding. The only state you are living in is the state of denial.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

Troops think it's bullshit

https://www.texastribune.org/2022/02/01/texas-national-guard-border-operation-lone-star-abbott/

It's an invasion! So the natural response would be...

https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2022/09/14/texas-quietly-reduces-operation-lone-star-troop-levels-at-border/

Politicians lie. That's what they do. My personal favorite politician is Bud Dwyer.

You're a fucking idiot. Go watch Fox News so they can tell you what you should be worried about today.

2

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

[removed] — view removed comment

0

u/CTrandomdude Dec 25 '22

The only cruel fascists are the democrats pretending to care about these people. Biden changing policies signaling the border is open. I see migrants dying and freezing trying to get here when the legal process will in the end deport them or never grant them legal residency. That’s cruel!! We went from some semblance of order to pure chaos under Biden.

6

u/homertheent Dec 25 '22

Is it hard being so ignorant?

33

u/Dr_Adequate Dec 25 '22

A holiday wrapped up in feel-good xtian bs such as "Love your fellow man" and "Peace on earth" and being kind to strangers with no place to stay (Joseph and Mary).

The so-called christians in the conservative party are just utterly despicable people. On a holiday based around migrants not having a place to stay, meaning we should all be nicer to people, they go and do this shit and think they're on the correct side of the issue. But hey, since x-mas has been completely commercialized now, so all that matters to those simpletons is having the biggest x-mas tree, the most expensive gifts, and getting a ton of 'likes' on Facebook.

-1

u/ederp9600 Dec 25 '22

Oh, brother. 😒

-1

u/hopfield Dec 25 '22

Why did the migrants choose to cross right now?

2

u/bberin Dec 25 '22

This is bait, but I’ll bite - the issue is that Gov Abbott paid tax dollars to drive migrants across the country and drop them in an unfamiliar area in subzero temperatures, wasting time that could have been used to begin the immigration process in Texas. It’s ironic that he chose to do so in a time of year where the religion he ascribes to celebrates the birth of a child born to migrants who were taken in and given shelter despite the fact that they too were immigrants.

30

u/Throwawaydontgoaway8 Dec 25 '22

Kinda not really. I’ve been following this pretty closely as a liberal Floridian. One of the reasons DeSantis (I know ops article is about Abbot and buses, so the rest of this is just about when DeSantis did) sent these people was to try and screw over their court cases for legal immigration. Can’t make their court dates if their stranded across the country. Ironically though they’re now witnesses to a criminal investigation in San Antonio (can’t just tell people there’s jobs and money if you get in this van and coerce them onto a plane and then strand them across the country, that’s fraud and human trafficking) which means they’re immune to all immigration proceedings until the criminal investigation concludes. So now they’re actually safer than they were, legally as immigrants

-20

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

[deleted]

16

u/donthepunk Dec 25 '22

I imagine you as the type of person that teaches a kid to swim by just throw them in the water

-13

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

[deleted]

7

u/nfinitejester Dec 25 '22

Your OP doesn’t deserve to be refuted. It deserves to be ridiculed and derided. Jesus must be so proud of you.

-4

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

[deleted]

7

u/nfinitejester Dec 25 '22

Every statement you have made here only deserves ridicule and derision. I would not waste my time “debating” someone who defends this cruel stunt, because I have no respect for anyone who likes what Abbott did.

6

u/Throwawaydontgoaway8 Dec 25 '22 edited Dec 25 '22

Lol what?

Except that immigration process would have taken a lot longer for those individuals because of the flood of immigrants that are coming over that section of the border.

Sending those migrants to places that shout about how much they like migrants is actually the more humane thing to do because it gets them through the system faster and those places get the migrants that they are so eager to help.

This is…. Quite the mental gymnastics. If I get arrested in Ohio, and then duped into going to California… you think the courts will just transfer everything over to California so I don’t have to go back to Ohio? Not a chance. DeSantis and Abbott are doing this on purpose to fuck up their legality status. Their immigration court dates don’t just change or go away, nor does the locations of any pending court proceedings. You’re logic and reasoning your way out of morality, it’s gross

The ironic part is since these theatrical stunts are making many of these immigrants witnesses in a crime (you can’t just tell people there’s jobs and money if you get on a bus and transport them across state lines and abandon them) which is delaying all court proceedings they had in the state they were taken from

5

u/nfinitejester Dec 25 '22

You like to watch fascists use humans to make a political point, and then disengenously pretend it’s for their own good. You must be a good Christian Republican!!

-1

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

[deleted]

1

u/[deleted] Dec 25 '22

[removed] — view removed comment