White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is being asked about her claim that the Texas governorâs vow to send migrants to the nationâs capital is a publicity stunt.
On Wednesday, Fox Newsâ Jacqui Heinrich noted, âThe first bus of migrants arrived in D.C. today. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott making good on his promise to send migrants to the presidentâs doorstep. I think you previously called it a publicity stunt.â
She asked, âIs that still the view of the White House? Can you give us any reaction to this busload of migrants arriving here in D.C.?â
âWell, these are all migrants who have been processed by CBP and are free to travel,â Psaki responded.
She added, âSo, itâs nice the state of Texas is helping them get to their final destination as they await the outcome of their Immigration proceedings. And theyâre all in Immigration proceedings.â
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At an April 6 press conference, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said the state would charter buses to send illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C.
âWe are sending them to the United States Capitol where the Biden administration will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across our border,â Abbott said.
When asked last week if the administration had plans to respond to busloads of migrants being sent to the capital, Psaki said, âIâm not aware of what authority the governor would be doing that under.â
âI think itâs pretty clear that this is a publicity stunt. His own office admits that a migrant would need to voluntarily be transported. And he canât compel them to because, again, enforcement of our countryâs Immigration laws lies with the federal government,â she added.
However, on Wednesday, the first busload of migrants arrived in Washington, D.C.
The Texas governor tweeted Wednesday, âFirst Texas bus drops off illegal immigrants blocks from US Capitol in Washington, DC. Biden refuses to come see the mess heâs made at the border.â
âSo Texas is bringing the border to him,â he added.
On April 1, the Biden administration announced it would end an Immigration order known as Title 42, which allowed for the majority of migrants who cross the southern border to be expelled, on May 23.
News about the decision to lift the order sparked concern that there will be a massive surge of migrants attempting to cross the border.
According to CNN, âThe Department of Homeland Security is preparing for a worst-case scenario of up to 18,000 people trying to cross the border daily, a number sure to overwhelm the already full border facilities.â
