As the year 2024 looms, Governor Greg Abbott of Texas looks back on what he deems a triumphant and exhilarating year for the Lone Star State. The outgoing year kicked off with Abbott, a member of the Republican party, inaugurating his third term after defeating Democratic contender Beto O’Rourke in the November 2022 election.
In a series of tweets on December 30, Abbott expressed his pride and gratitude for serving as the governor of Texas. "It’s an honor to serve as Governor of the greatest state in the nation," Abbott tweeted. He continued by expressing his satisfaction over the achievements of the past year: "Proud of the historic wins we delivered this year for families, businesses, and all Texans". In conclusion, he invoked divine blessings for the future: "May God continue to bless Texas in 2024 and beyond."
Abbott takes pride in Texas's consistent standing as a national frontrunner in terms of economic vitality and business robustness. "2023 was an exciting and successful year in Texas," he stated. "As we look ahead to 2024, we will continue to build an even bigger and better Texas of tomorrow." He also extended his gratitude towards those who contributed to this success: "Thank you to the hardworking Texans who made 2023 our best year yet."
The governor also commended Texas's proactive approach towards securing its southern border with Mexico. "Texas stepped up our historic border security efforts in 2023," Abbott declared. "With new laws to protect Texans and expanded tools and strategies to deter illegal crossings, #OperationLoneStar will continue to hold the line in 2024."
ABC News reported that on December 19th, according to Houston Daily, Abbott arranged for 120 migrants to be transported from El Paso to Chicago via a chartered flight under the auspices of the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM). This action was reportedly taken in response to a Chicago city ordinance aiming to penalize bus companies that transport migrants without informing city authorities. A statement from the Office of the Texas Governor, obtained by ABC News, explained: "Because Mayor [Brandon] Johnson is failing to live up to his city's 'Welcoming City' ordinance by targeting migrant buses from Texas, we are expanding our operation to include flights to Chicago, like the Biden Administration has been doing across the country."