Texas reportedly paid a private company $75.5 million in the span of a year to transport migrants to sanctuary cities across the U.S.

Transaction data provided by the Texas Department of Emergency Management shows the state paid Wynne Transportation $75,561,032.72 from Aug. 19, 2022, through Aug. 23, 2023, to bus migrants out of state.

13 Investigates asked the department for more details on the spending, but our questions were referred to Gov. Greg Abbott’s office.

Abbott’s office did not respond to ABC13’s questions by Tuesday afternoon.

Since April 2022, Texas has bussed nearly 52,000 migrants to Washington, D.C., New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, and Los Angeles, according to a news release from Abbott’s office.

  • Radium
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    1 year ago

    Probably could have housed, fed, and employed those same migrants for that amount

    • KoboldCoterie@pawb.social
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      1 year ago

      That’s $14,519.23 per migrant; wouldn’t have lasted them long, but it could have taken care of them long enough for them to get their feet under them, surely.

      I don’t understand how it costs $14.5k per person to transport them… Sounds like someone’s pockets were getting lined.

      It’s $1,453.09, not 14.5k. Still more than it should cost to transport people but not as unreasonable as I previously claimed.

        • JJROKCZ@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Yea 1400 from Texas to Chicago is still pretty pricey but w/e. That money wouldn’t go far towards feeding/housing them but even if it covers a month that’s all most need to find work and pay for themselves after

        • FontMasterFlex@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          You’re both wrong. the article states the $75 million is from AUGUST 2022 to August 2023. The 52,000 number is from April 2022.

      • TinyPizza@kbin.social
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        1 year ago

        Why not be a monster AND make some sweet side cheddar. Everything’s bigger in Texas, including the amount stolen off the top.

        • HobbitFoot @thelemmy.club
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          1 year ago

          Yeah. Greyhound charges about $330 to go from San Antonio. In this case, the bus is likely fuller and only has to stop for gas and maybe a driver switch. Flights are actually cheaper, but then you’d have to explain to TSA why all these people without documentation and with flights paid by others are going through the airport.

    • ShittyRedditWasBetter@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Do people even try due diligence before mouthing off? 4th grade math would tell you that we’re taking like 1.5k. You are a part of our problem.

      • CmdrShepard@lemmy.one
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        1 year ago

        And you are part of the problem by deflecting away from the fact that these Republicans are funneling taxpayer money to their buddies by paying $1500 for a one-way bus ticket. You can get first-class airfare for that price.

      • Rob@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        Do people even try being kind about mistakes before mouthing off? 4th grade social skills would tell you that you’re talking like a jackass. You are a part of our problem.