Texas Gov. Abbott Says First Migrant Bus Arrives In D.C., Which White House Calls A ‘Publicity Stunt’

Topline

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) followed through Wednesday with his promise to send migrants released from federal custody near the Texas-Mexico border to Washington, D.C., in what the governor says is a response to the Biden Administration’s decision to ease restrictions on allowing migrants to remain in the United States.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) speaks during a campaign stop on February 17, 2022 in San Antonio, Texas. … [+] (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Key Facts

Abbott said Texas authorities planned to drop migrants off at the U.S. Capitol, but the first bus arrived Wednesday a few blocks away, right next to a building that houses Fox News operations.

The conservative outlet was the first to report the news, stating dozens of migrants got off the bus, which departed from Del Rio, Texas.

It’s not clear whether any D.C. city services are responding to assist the migrants or if they’re on their own—the D.C. mayor’s office and police did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Forbes.

Abbott announced plans last week for an “unprecedented” response to the Biden Administration dropping Title 42, a Trump-era policy that allowed for the rapid deportation of migrants and largely blocked them from seeking asylum due to Covid-19.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki called Abbott’s plans a “publicity stunt,” while the ACLU of Texas has blasted the busing as politically motivated.

Even some Republicans have spoken up against the move, like Texas state Rep. Matt Schaefer, who called it a “gimmick.”

Crucial Quote

“Biden refuses to come see the mess he’s made at the border. So Texas is bringing the border to him,” Abbott tweeted Wednesday.

What To Watch For

Title 42 will be lifted on May 23. White House communications director Kate Bedingfield said last week most migrants who illegally cross the border will still be “promptly placed into removal proceedings.”

Key Background

Abbott last week enacted two new border policies: one sending migrants released from federal custody to D.C. and the other enhancing state inspections of vehicles crossing into Texas from Mexico, which he claims is necessary to crack down on the smuggling of migrants and illegal drugs into the country. Critics have questioned the legality of the migrant busing, but Abbott claims the program is lawful since riders take the buses voluntarily and the trip is free of charge. The White House has warned that compelling migrants to get on buses to D.C. would be a violation of federal law since immigration authority lies with the federal government. Abbott has made border security a focal point of his reelection campaign, repeatedly blaming the Biden Administration for a massive uptick in border crossings. According to data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, more than 150,000 border crossings have been reported every month since March 2021, Biden’s third month in office. Border crossings averaged below 50,000 per month in 2020, reaching a low of 17,106 in April 2020 while the U.S. was gripped by its first Covid surge.

Chief Critic

Texas Democratic gubernatorial nominee Beto O’Rourke slammed Abbott for the ramped up vehicle inspections, which he said is “going to be very bad for the national economy.” Trucks are reportedly waiting in lines of up to 16 hours at border crossings before receiving inspections that take around 45 minutes.