The first migrant bus sent to Philadelphia from Texas has arrived in the City of Brotherly Love. The bus held only 31 illegal immigrants but to critics, the trip is a “cruel trick” played on “innocent people who are legally in the United States.” Well, now. That’s quite a spin on illegal immigration running rampant on the southern border, isn’t it?

To be clear, ‘legally in the United States” means the illegal immigrants have applied for asylum. It does not mean they arrived on U.S. soil via a legal port of entry. They broke U.S. law as their very first act to finding a new home, so spare us the play on innocence. Nonetheless, the Biden administration is not an advocate for the rule of law, even immigration law, so they are welcomed. As it turns out, only one or maybe three, depending on who is talking, will be staying in Philadelphia. The others are being transported to other destinations. They are receiving free transportation by bus to wherever they wish to go. Does that sound cruel?

Most of the people arriving in Philadelphia are expected to be traveling on to meet family members. All have legal means to be in the United States. Many, if not all are seeking asylum, and have passed “credible fear” interviews in order to be released into the interior United States.

That standard requires that immigrants show they face a real danger of being harmed in their homeland, or that they’ve already been harmed. And they must have been harmed in a certain way, such as because of their race, religion or politics.

Hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants cross the southern border each month. Thirty-one people is not even a drop in the bucket. When they arrive in Texas, or another border state, they don’t necessarily plan to remain in that state. It’s a starting point. They have relatives in other states and that is where they wish to travel once they clear Border Patrol agents and ICE allows them to be sent on their merry way.

Officials in Philadelphia were expecting the illegal immigrants. Governor Abbott pledges to continue sending migrant buses to sanctuary cities until the border is secured – “sustainable border security.” Texas taxpayers are paying for the buses.

The first Texas bus of migrants has departed for Philadelphia.

The Lone Star State will continue doing more than any state in history to secure our border, including adding more sanctuary cities as drop-off locations for our busing strategy. pic.twitter.com/caIUpjsGR4

— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 15, 2022

Governor Abbott said that Mayor Kenney’s support of Philadelphia being a sanctuary city is why the city was put on his list.

He cited Kenney’s advocacy for Philadelphia’s role as a sanctuary city for “making the city an ideal addition to Texas’ list.” The Kenney administration fought and won a major lawsuit over the Trump administration’s effort to withhold grant money unless the city helped enforce federal immigration laws.

Sanctuary jurisdictions such as Philadelphia aim to treat undocumented migrants the same as everyone else when they come in contact with the legal system. Those cities and states say it’s illegal for them to detain migrants for arrest by ICE agents, absent a judge’s order.

The illegal immigrants were welcomed in Philadelphia by volunteers who provided winter coats, blankets, and hot chocolate. They are mostly from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and Cuba. City Councilmember Helen Gym was among the greeters.

“Seeking asylum is a human right,” Gym said. “Our country has always welcomed people seeking refuge here, and we have flourished because of that. … Our city and country are strongest when we embrace and welcome people searching for a better life.”

That’s true – the United States has a history of welcoming asylum-seekers. The four million apprehensions at the southern border over the span of the Biden administration, though, is different. Very few of them will qualify for asylum as immigration law is now written. Most are simply coming to look for employment. That is not a reason to be granted asylum. None of those on the bus who spoke to the press report anything other than a good trip and happiness to be going to family members. Again, how is any of this cruel?

(Illegal) immigrant advocates and Mayor Kenney blast Governor Abbott for his actions.

“Time and time again, immigrants are used as tokens to advance the political agendas of individuals who have no interest in our communities’ wellbeing,” said Juntos advocacy group executive director Erika Guadalupe Núñez. “Governor Abbott’s busing efforts serve as a ploy to wreak social discord and spread misinformation over the human right to seek asylum and what it means to be a Welcoming City. We will not be fooled by his efforts.”

Mayor Jim Kenney pledged the arrivals would be treated with dignity and respect, and shared a “How you can help” briefing, which can be read here. “It’s disgusting that Gov. Abbott’s administration continues to implement their purposefully cruel policy using immigrant families as political pawns,” the mayor said Tuesday.

Philadelphia officials said they would be ready with food, water, emergency health screenings and shelter. Abbott confirmed on Tuesday that along with Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C., “sanctuary city Philadelphia will now be a drop-off location for the state of Texas busing strategy.”

At what point do we get to simply laugh at these hypocrites? Oh, wait. It’s too late. I already am.