Democrats are blasting the busing of migrants to Vice President Harris\u2019s Washington, D.C., residence on Christmas Eve, taking aim at Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), whom they blame for dropping the groups off in below-freezing temperatures on a holiday.<\/p>\n
The incident was the latest salvo in a months-long effort by Abbott and other Republican governors to urge the Biden administration to bolster its immigration policy and wasn\u2019t the first time migrants have been sent to the vice president\u2019s home. But it will likely intensify the feud over immigration, especially as Title 42 hangs in the balance.
\n\u201cGovernor Abbott abandoned children on the side of the road in below freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve without coordinating with any Federal or local authorities,\u201d White House assistant press secretary Abdullah Hasan said in a statement. \u201cThis was a cruel, dangerous, and shameful stunt.\u201d<\/p>\n
Three busloads of migrants arrived outside the Naval Observatory, the vice president\u2019s official residence, on Saturday, according to ABC 7, when temperatures were in the teens. Video captured by a reporter from the outlet showed groups of migrants wrapped in blankets. One person was wearing shorts.<\/p>\n
The Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, a local aid group, took the migrants to a church to receive assistance, according to ABC 7. The organization said Abbott was behind Saturday\u2019s drop off, and the local outlet said the group learned about the buses a few days earlier.
\nAbbott has not confirmed his involvement but various news outlets, in addition to the White House and the aid organization, say he was responsible. The Hill reached out to Abbott\u2019s office for comment.<\/p>\n
Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the organization, told CNN that the three buses were initially driving to New York but \u201cshifted to DC because of the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt really does show the cruelty behind Gov. Abbott in his insistence on continuing to bus people here without care,\u201d Fischer told ABC 7, going on to say that the migrants \u201cdon\u2019t have clothes for this kind of weather and they\u2019re freezing.\u201d
\nDemocrats are again criticizing the tactic, especially the timing of the latest episode.<\/p>\n
\u201cWorthless @GovAbbott dropping off people with no money and no means on Christmas Eve in 15 degree weather near the VP\u2019s residence,\u201d Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) wrote on Twitter early Sunday morning. \u201cHow Christian of you, Greg Abbott. Being a heartless POS isn\u2019t going to make you the next Republican President.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cGovernor Abbott claims to be a \u2018pro-life Christian\u2019 yet shows no regard for the lives of children left shivering in the freezing cold on Christmas Eve,\u201d Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) wrote on Twitter. \u201cDropping off migrants in 18 degree weather is so cruel that it ought to be criminal.\u201d
\nAbbott and other Republican governors for months have been directing migrants to Democratic-led cities \u2014 including New York, Chicago, Philadelphia \u2014 drawing widespread criticism from Democrats for what they see as using the immigrants as political pawns.<\/p>\n
In one of the most widely-publicized cases, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) flew two planes of migrants from Texas to Martha\u2019s Vineyard in Massachusetts in September. That same month, two buses of migrants from Texas arrived at the Naval Observatory.<\/p>\n
GOP governors have argued the strategy allows them to highlight the difficulties border communities face by forcing northern cities and states to contend with the crisis Republicans say they helped create.
\nBiden in September slammed the \u201cpolitical stunts,\u201d labeling them \u201cun-American\u201d and \u201creckless.\u201d<\/p>\n
This week, Abbott called on Biden to \u201cimmediately deploy federal assets\u201d to address the situation at the border.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou and your administration must stop the lie that the border is secure and, instead, immediately deploy federal assets to address the dire problems you have caused,\u201d he wrote in a letter to the president. \u201cYou must execute the duties that the U.S. Constitution mandates you perform and secure the southern border before more innocent lives are lost.\u201d<\/p>\n
The governor also referenced Title 42, the Trump-era policy that allows border officials to turn away asylum seekers because of concerns over public health. The policy was set to expire on Wednesday, but one day before, Supreme Court Justice John Roberts granted an administrative stay, temporarily halting the roll back.<\/p>\n
The Department of Homeland Security warned on Saturday that it is still enforcing Title 42, writing in a statement that \u201canyone attempting to enter without authorization is subject to expulsion under Title 42.\u201d The agency also cautioned about cold temperatures at the border.
\nA majority of Republicans and some Democrats have said Title 42 is important to keep in place to control immigration at the border, but immigration advocates and most Democrats contend that it subverts the asylum system.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith cold temperatures gripping Texas, your inaction to secure the southern border is putting the lives of migrants at risk, particularly in the City of El Paso,\u201d Abbott wrote. \u201cWith thousands of men, women, and children illegally crossing into Texas every day, and with the exception that those numbers will only increase if Title 42 expulsions end, the state is overburdened as we respond to this disaster caused by you and your administration.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour policies will leave many people in the bitter, dangerous cold as a polar vortex moves into Texas,\u201d he added.
\nHasan, the White House assistant press secretary, said the administration is \u201cwilling to work with anyone \u2013 Republican or Democrat alike \u2013 on real solutions\u201d to address circumstances at the border, but noted that \u201cthese political games accomplish nothing and only put lives in danger.\u201d<\/p>\n