Texas Gov. Greg Abbott boasted shortly after he began soliciting private donations for his controversial migrant busing program that there would likely “be no cost to the state” given the outpouring of support from concerned citizens across the country.But after nearly more than two years of fundraising to offset the program’s costs, Abbott’s operation has collected less than half of 1% of the roughly $150 million spent on busing migrants to sanctuary cities, according to a review of state records. And CNN found that the largest donation –$900,000 – never made it into the state’s coffers, either because it was a mistake or a prank.
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    8 months ago

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    Greg Abbott boasted shortly after he began soliciting private donations for his controversial migrant busing program that there would likely “be no cost to the state” given the outpouring of support from concerned citizens across the country.

    But after nearly two years of fundraising to offset the program’s costs, Abbott’s operation has collected less than half of 1% of the roughly $150 million spent on busing migrants to sanctuary cities, according to a review of state records.

    Reporters tried to reach the woman behind the supposed $900,000 donation, but they could not locate the person with the name provided, and the phone number submitted to state officials was disconnected.

    Mellon donated $50,000 to the busing program, far less than the tens of millions of dollars that the Texas Tribune reported he contributed to the state’s border wall fund.

    He has also donated millions to Super PACs supporting presidential candidates Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this year alone, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

    “Texas drew the short straw being on the border, but it’s a national issue and they need some relief, and these folks need to find refuge in the sanctuary cities that invite them.”

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