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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsBusload of migrants abandoned at Kankakee gas station, told they were in Chicago
Source: NBC Chicago and AP
Busload of migrants abandoned at Kankakee gas station, told they were in Chicago
Once there, officers discovered multiple groups of migrants, some of whom had started walking down the highway and expressway wrapped in blankets.
By NBC 5 Investigates and The Associated Press • Published December 22, 2023 • Updated on December 22, 2023 at 9:12 pm
Dozens of migrants were left abandoned at a gas station in Kankakee during the early morning hours Thursday as their bus driver told them they had arrived in Chicago, leaving them stranded and alone, police said.
The Kankakee County Sheriff's office reported they were called to a gas station around 7:30 a.m. in the 3400 south block of Route 45/52 for what was described as a busload of migrants dropped off in a parking lot.
Once there, officers discovered multiple groups of migrants, some of whom had started walking down the highway and expressway wrapped in blankets. After speaking with 11 people who were still at the gas station, officers learned the bus had traveled from El Paso, Texas, and dropped the group off around 4:30 a.m., with the bus driver "erroneously informing them that they had reached Chicago, their intended destination," police said.
"The passengers, hailing from Venezuela, were left without money, food, adequate clothing, and were under the impression that they had reached their destination," the sheriff's office said in a statement.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/busload-of-migrants-abandoned-at-kankakee-gas-station-told-they-were-in-chicago/3309884/
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elleng
(141,926 posts)No info provided about how this 'trip' was initiated. I'd like to discuss with some, like House Reps and Senators, as well as White House, penalties for such.
yellowdogintexas
(23,696 posts)elleng
(141,926 posts)but several here want to blame bus driver. 
broiles
(1,455 posts)
snowybirdie
(6,687 posts)my old home. Its desolate farmland with few houses and no services. This is criminal! Those poor people need help. This situation needs resolution soon!
riversedge
(80,820 posts)
getagrip_already
(17,802 posts)Couldn't the writer at least mention it? Not everyone lives in Illinois.
Fwiw, it's a very small burb of Chicago. Population 800. It's also about 60 miles away from the city proper.
mopinko
(73,727 posts)it’s it’s own thing, a couple counties away.
ProfessorGAC
(76,711 posts)There are 3 towns that make up the population of the area. The town where they were dropped has 24,000 people, the other 2 at 15 & 18 thousand. So, around 57,000 people. About 55% of all the people in the county.
There's a Kankakee Indiana, too. But, it's not as small as 600. Probably more like 5,000.
They have TWO hospitals there. Not sure where you came up with 600. There are apartment complexes there with that many people.
snowybirdie
(6,687 posts)It's a good 15 or do miles from there. Rt 45 winds through farm country and nothing for miles except that gas station and a farm house or two. Lived there. Should have said outside of Peotone.
Ms. Toad
(38,643 posts)Ms. Toad
(38,643 posts)ProfessorGAC
(76,711 posts)It's about a mile north of one of the hospitals & across the river from the other.
It's nowhere near any lodging or any city services. There's a Walgreens & McDonald's right there.
I played in a battle of bands a couple miles north of that gas station.
Really confusing why the driver would let them off there. Too lazy to drive the rest of the way to Chicago?
Very bizarre choice to just dump them there.
Looks like a lot a cities are going to have to follow Aurora's lead.
Have one driver dump passengers in Wheaton or Morris, and the Rs there will scream bloody murder. It will cease to be a good idea in one Planck Time.
Eugene
(67,105 posts)This is Texas' idea of a work-around.
ProfessorGAC
(76,711 posts)Because taking people other than where they agreed to go is negligent & seems a bit like kidnapping.
Also, an area like that tri-town doesn't have the resources. Dumping them off there is even more negligent.
I can see some court cases out of this because cities like this simply can't do anything for migrants. Too small, not terribly affluent. And in winter, not even any seasonal work.
Skittles
(171,719 posts)I don't understand how this activity is legal.
GoCubsGo
(34,916 posts)Which is why these poor people were dumped outside of the city. Gov. Pritzker needs to follow Chicago's lead, and institute this state-wide. The same goes for the private airplanes they're using, as well.
If it was up to me, I'd take those emptied buses, fill one of them up with Latin Kings, another with Gangster Disciples, another with Vice Lords.... and, leave them all in Dallas and Houston, just as they're doing with these poor migrants. Let Abbott and the rest of his bigoted pals see what actual criminals look like.
Emile
(42,300 posts)district in Louisiana.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisiana%27s_4th_congressional_district
GoCubsGo
(34,916 posts)There are plenty of them to go around. Especially given that he is unwilling to work on passing any legislation to deal with the problem, and is instead trying to lay it all at Biden's feet.
markodochartaigh
(5,545 posts)about the same percentage as Massachusetts. About 600,000 people in Dallas County.
In Houston, Harris County, 55% voted Democratic about the same as Colorado or Oregon. 900,000 people in Harris County voted Democratic.
GoCubsGo
(34,916 posts)I see that others have better suggestions below. I particularly like the suggestion that they drop them off at Greg Abbott's place. They ought to send some to DeSatan's place in Florida, as well, since he is also guilty of this kind of dumping of migrants.
yellowdogintexas
(23,696 posts)those are fairly large red red areas. Let them figure it out and leave the blue counties alone
LeftInTX
(34,303 posts)
japple
(10,459 posts)My Dad's family is from Guadalupe Co, but he raised his children (with the help of Mom, who was born/raised in N. GA in MTG's district) to be free-thinking people and to be decent and fair with everyone regardless of race, creed, religion. I still have a few relatives left who like to exercise the 2nd amendment rights and talk trash about people who aren't lilly white.
BTW: we have always been confused about how to pronounce certain words when we go to Texas. For instance: Boerne is pronounced: Bernie Why isn't Gruene pronounced: Greenie?
LeftInTX
(34,303 posts)They could raid Buccee's in Luling..LOL
But there is also a Buccee's in New Braunfels.
I say New Braunfels after what happened to Biden/Harris campaign bus in the fall of 2020. Those shooters were from NB.
japple
(10,459 posts)absolutely nothing to do with it. It is just because there is huge growth spurt going on between Atlanta & Chattanooga these days. Miles and miles of warehouses, truck stops, interstate commerce exchanges, easy on/off and (I hope I don't hear this come back to bite me) good ole boy law enforecement
japple
(10,459 posts)LeftInTX
(34,303 posts)japple
(10,459 posts)Beautiful country. Pedernales River. There used to be lots of peach and pecan orchards around there. My Dad and his brothers worked there building houses during the summer before the cotton was ready to pick.
2naSalit
(102,808 posts)Drop them in from of abbutt's house like he did to VP Harris.
ShazzieB
(22,593 posts)Sure sounds like it!
greatauntoftriplets
(179,010 posts)The cruelty is the point, I guess.
ProfessorGAC
(76,711 posts)Now, at the gas station I'm picturing it would be Bourbonnais. About 18,000 people there.
But, a couple blocks south that cross street is where Kankakee starts. Generally speaking, the whole tri-town area is called Kankakee unless one lives in one of the three. I can see the reporter generalizing. The county has the sane name.
My guess is they were dropped off in Bourbonnais, but the people walking would have been in Kankakee pretty quickly.
Couldn't begin to guess where those people thought they were going. Just lost & confused, I suppose.
Ace Rothstein
(3,373 posts)Some were supposedly dropped off further north near Manteno on both US 45 and IL 50. I couldn't imagine how dangerous it was to be walking along those roads.
ProfessorGAC
(76,711 posts)There are no sidewalks out there.
My wife's doctor is in Bourbonnais so we've been that way MANY times.
greatauntoftriplets
(179,010 posts)That's good that it's not a long walk to Kankakee. But when you have no idea where you are and don't speak the language, it might as well be a thousand miles. If they had been told they were going to Chicago, they probably were surprised. Makes that stunt of dumping people in Martha's Vineyard look humane in contrast.
Ms. Toad
(38,643 posts)(Assuming my google search identified the right Kankakee.)
ProfessorGAC
(76,711 posts)And 60 miles would be from there to Chicago's city limits.
One would hit southern suburbs sooner, but it's closer to 72 miles from Kankakee to downtown Chicago.
We're 60 miles from downtown and Kankakee is well south of us.
LeftInTX
(34,303 posts)I like maps..LOL, so I hunted it down based on the address.
Also Chicago Sun Times shows a Love's Travel Stop.
South of Kankakee and next to I-57.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/12/22/24012718/migrants-bus-kankakee-midway-airport-texas
https://maps.app.goo.gl/5zyB7LvnNodAALqc9
Snip:
Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said the office is trying to identify anyone responsible for leaving the migrants at the gas station.
The 30 to 40 new arrivals come a few days after the Texas Division of Emergency Management sent a private chartered plane carrying more than 120 asylum-seekers to O’Hare Airport. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office confirmed the state is responsible for the flight, which also departed from El Paso. A spokesman for Abbott said the state was “expanding our operation” to include sending migrants by plane to Chicago, in addition to the hundreds of buses they’ve already used to transport migrants to the city since last year.
“The cruelty of Texas Governor Abbott knows no bounds, and the latest round of buses and planes sent to the Chicagoland area just shows the lack of humanity underlying his ‘mission,’” Lawrence Benito, executive director of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, told the Sun-Times in a statement.
“As advocates across Illinois rush to care for new arrivals, the need for federal and state coordination is heightened. This is also a moment for all cities and towns across Illinois to lean into showing what it means to be a welcoming state.”
________________
Illinois could set up inspection stations for buses at their border. Certain states still have them for agriculture inspection.
They should air this in Texas: "Greg Abbott sends migrants to a rural Love's truck stop".
It will not be well received. ("Is he trying to get them illegal jobs at a truck stop?? Isn't there prostitution at Love's??What happened to owning the libs??".)
ProfessorGAC
(76,711 posts)That Love's is way south of town.
The address provided was missing the N or S. That's 3400 S. Where I was picturing was 3400 N.
And since the road jogs several times getting there, irs a good 3 miles apart.
This actually makes more sense, as this would have been far easier for a lazy driver to terminate the route there.
Thanjs.
badhair77
(5,182 posts)To abandon these poor souls, who have endured so much to get here, and then torture them with physical discomfort in cold and darkness, proves Abbott and co have no ounce of kindness in their hearts.
babylonsister
(172,760 posts)over and over.
keithbvadu2
(40,915 posts)Calculating
(3,000 posts)...
bluestarone
(22,182 posts)Get out there and find the bus that did this. Go after the company and TEXAS!
elleng
(141,926 posts)How about digging down/up, to who INITIATED this crap, who is PAYING for this 'service?' and prohibiting such.
bluestarone
(22,182 posts)Yes punish the bus driver would be a good start.
elleng
(141,926 posts)a working person doing his job, likely unaware riders don't know where they are/are going, when the initiator(s) know the enterprise is WRONG.
bluestarone
(22,182 posts)DISAGREE!
japple
(10,459 posts)asked "are these people supposed to be dropped off in the middle of nowhere, with no one to meet them, without language to communicate, without proper clothing..." Something has GOT TO CHANGE. Did the bus driver just drive on down the road and park, clock out, have a beer and go to bed?
bluestarone
(22,182 posts)These people have NO humanity.
Deuxcents
(26,934 posts)This is human trafficking, cruel to the letter. After all Abbott and DeSantis have done with stunts like this, I can’t believe there are no lawsuits or designs to put an end to this. If there is, please post it
Zeitghost
(4,557 posts)Human trafficking involves using the victims for sex work or slave labor.
JoseBalow
(9,489 posts)with a sprinkle of exploitation
LeftInTX
(34,303 posts)U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor or services against his or her will. The one exception involves minors and commercial sex. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.
Zeitghost
(4,557 posts)The intention is to manipulate.
But the result is hard working immigrants being located in places where they are wanted, will be respected, taken care of and where they can add to the community and its culture and economy.
Would you prefer they be stuck in Texas? Are they better off there?
Deuxcents
(26,934 posts)I think this site will disagree with you, Zeitgeist. It can involve sex work or slave labor but there are other definitions of human trafficking and what is going on with the transporting of people that Abbott and DeSantis are involved with is definitely human trafficking.
LeftInTX
(34,303 posts)U.S. law defines human trafficking as the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person into commercial sex acts or labor or services against his or her will. The one exception involves minors and commercial sex. Inducing a minor into commercial sex is considered human trafficking regardless of the presence of force, fraud or coercion.
Zeitghost
(4,557 posts)"Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act."
These people are being moved, to somewhere they agreed to go, where they will be better of...
That's not human trafficking. It's a political stunt, but in the end they will have access to more resources in a location that values them.
LeftInTX
(34,303 posts)It also is not fair to the localities where they are dumped.
But I agree, it's not human trafficking.
stopdiggin
(15,464 posts)This was a dump and run, plain and simple. And the idea the the driver was somehow not aware of the situation - thought this was somehow okay - is frankly laughable.
bluestarone
(22,182 posts)This bullshit has been going on in texas a LONG time. These YAHOO'S know exactly what they are doing, and are fully involved. They carre NOTHING about other human beings. These bus lines and drivers are as bad as Abbott. No doubt in my mind!!
ShazzieB
(22,593 posts)And they don't even regard brown people who can't speak English as human beings in the first place.
Of course, most of us would regard it as cruel to abandon a dog in an unfamiliar area. That says volumes about what Texas thinks of migrants.
P.S. When I say Texas, I mean the people who run the state, not all individual Texans.
bluestarone
(22,182 posts)Glad to see your (ps) Because we do have a lot of good people there that are living a NIGHTMARE! I just cannot imagine putting up with the bullshit they do everyday. Hat off to all our good people in Texas. 
Backseat Driver
(4,671 posts)passengers inconvenience and confusion at the what was to be the end of the line. Besides, it's a day from Christmas Eve. Ever drive the Spaghetti Bowl or the Eisenhower--holiday traffic before Christmas? Every driver driving like an idiot and/or distracted on their phone navigation screens. He wanted to be back home again for the last week of the year -- not on the road, contract w/his employer's service or freelance rent-a-driver be damned!
stopdiggin
(15,464 posts)And chances are real good he's every bit as big a sh*t - as his boss, the company owner - and the governor behind it.
Backseat Driver
(4,671 posts)Response to stopdiggin (Reply #23)
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stopdiggin
(15,464 posts)nonetheless, I won't belabor you your 'opinion' ...
However, I will maintain - and, yes, with a great deal of certainty - that this 'employee' was absolutely complicit in what was clearly an illicit 'dump and run' action. And the idea that he or she wasn't aware that this was 'wrong' (on several different levels) - is utterly laughable.
Response to stopdiggin (Reply #59)
Name removed Message auto-removed
japple
(10,459 posts)Sometimes people have to stand up and do what's right for the sake of humanity. The driver must have known there was something wrong with this transport. And as one who lived in Germany (not that long after WWII) I am making an ironic statement about "we were good Germans." I love Germany, the country, the people, and I would live there again in a heartbeat. But they had that bit of troubling history and I hope we are going to get past all that...
yellowdogintexas
(23,696 posts)filthy rich bunch out in West Texas that are behind the big PACS and are huge Christian Nationalists.
GoCubsGo
(34,916 posts)Which is why they're dumping these people in the suburbs. They need to do it state-wide.
JustAnotherGen
(38,055 posts)This is what the GOP are.
Additional trial balloons to show us what they are capable of and what large groups of Americans will allow - should they take the reins again.
BlueWaveNeverEnd
(14,261 posts)hay rick
(9,607 posts)Their spiritual leader is preaching retribution.
BlueWaveNeverEnd
(14,261 posts)
flying_wahini
(8,275 posts)Maybe three.
Blue Owl
(59,111 posts)And back it up a few times just for kicks
Bayard
(29,710 posts)I'm surprised he didn't dump them as soon as he crossed the Illinois state line.
I don't suppose there's any chance of Congress enacting a national prohibition against this cruelty?
rubbersole
(11,223 posts)
Jean Genie
(544 posts)Wow! I guess we're really not a "Christian Nation," despite what MAGA World might assert. Unless, of course, the basic premise of Christianity is "Lookout for Number One, or Every Man (person) for Him (Her)self!"
I am embarrassed to call myself an American these days. Definitely wouldn't even think of calling myself a Christian!
How has hatred of the "other" become the rule? What happened to us? It's especially distressing at this season of the year, when "Peace on Earth, Good Will To Men" used to mean something.
Evolve Dammit
(21,777 posts)bahboo
(16,953 posts)perdita9
(1,352 posts)For self-described Christians to act like monsters
Runningdawg
(4,664 posts)
moonshinegnomie
(4,022 posts)Arrest the drivers
And if that doesn’t work start reverse bussing of criminals on parole to Texas . Offer them reduced sentences if they agree.
Drop them off in front of the governors mansion
Freethinker65
(11,203 posts)Did the bus gas up there for the return trip? Use a credit card? Someone can trace this bus.
nuxvomica
(14,093 posts)They seem to be engaged in a prolonged insurgency where J6 wasn't a movie, it was the pilot for a multi-season series. State-against-state is their trope of choice. This all needs to be exposed, all the dots connected, to show a party so void of popular ideas they can only make their authoritarian agenda appear a safe choice if they make the established pro-egalitarian order appear broken. I wonder if there is any higher level at which this nonsense is coordinated, maybe by donor groups.
1WorldHope
(2,055 posts)The point is the cruelty and nigyysob ( Now I got you, you soon of a bitch) However, immigration should be the responsibility of the entire nation. We can't expect the border states to do it all. But this should or could be a well coordinated effort to divide the burden across all states. What say you?