Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) says his state might start sending busloads of migrants to another location if the nation’s capital runs “out of room.”
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Hannity” Monday night, Abbott was asked, “Will you send every illegal immigrant that you find in the state of Texas to Washington, D.C.?”
“We’re going to load ’em up and send ’em to Washington, D.C.,” Abbott responded.
He added, “If we run out of room there, Delaware looks like a great location.”
Watch the video below:
Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX), when asked if he will send all migrants crossing the southern border to Washington D.C.:
— The Recount (@therecount) April 19, 2022
“If we run out of room there, Delaware looks like a great location.” pic.twitter.com/hk1ivSFuw1
Earlier this month, Abbott said the state would charter buses to send migrants to Washington, D.C.
When asked if the Biden administration had plans to respond to busloads of migrants being sent to the capital, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said, “I’m not aware of what authority the governor would be doing that under.”
“I think it’s pretty clear that this is a publicity stunt. His own office admits that a migrant would need to voluntarily be transported. And he can’t compel them to because, again, enforcement of our country’s immigration laws lies with the federal government,” she added.
However, last week, buses carrying migrants started arriving in the nation’s capital, as IJR reported.
Speaking to reporters after the first bus arrived, Abbott said, “One thing is perfectly clear, and that is the Biden administration and a lot of leaders in Congress have no idea about the chaos they have caused by their open border policies.”
“And they refuse to come down and see first hand and talk to the people who are really most adversely affected. And if they’re not going to come to the border, I’m going to take the border to them,” he continued.
The governor then referenced a bus that dropped off migrants in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday morning:
“They experienced, early this morning, exactly what communities in Texas experience every single day where the Biden administration is dropping off large groups of illegal immigrants from countries across the entire globe, leaving those communities to have to grapple with it.”
Finally, Abbott said, “We had the first busload arrive in Washington, D.C., today. There will be more that will be arriving whether by bus or plane so that Washington is going to have to respond and deal with the same challenges that we’re dealing with.”
Psaki was later asked about her claim that Abbott’s pledge was a “publicity stunt.”
“Well, these are all migrants who have been processed by CBP and are free to travel,” Psaki responded.
She added, “So, it’s nice the state of Texas is helping them get to their final destination as they await the outcome of their immigration proceedings.”
