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A third bus for migrants arrived in Washington around 8 a.m. Friday as part of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s efforts to oppose federal immigration policies amid the current border crisis.
Texas began sending an unspecified number of buses en route to Washington on April 8, following Gov. Abbott’s statement that Texas Emergency Management (TDEM) staff will transport migrants released in Texas communities to the nation’s capital. The White House initially described it as a “public gimmick”, with many speculating that the governor would not do it. Friday’s bus was carrying about 30 migrants.
“What better place for them to walk than the steps of the United States Capitol?” Abbott asked America’s Newsroom presenters just last week.
A third bus carrying migrants crossing the US-Texas border arrived in Washington, DC, near the US Capitol on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Timothy Nerozi / Fox News Digital)
The first bus for migrants arrived in the District of Columbia on April 13, and the second bus arrived the next day. Both buses have immigrants from Venezuela, Cuba, Colombia and Nicaragua.
The group spoke to the press in Spanish and finally convened a prayer circle not far from where they were left.
Abbott was highly critical of the Biden administration’s response to the border crisis, saying the federal government had failed to properly assess the border situation.
Speaking at a ceremony at the Texas Security Department Memorial, Abbott said more than 1.6 million people had crossed the Texas border illegally in the past 15 months.
A third bus carrying migrants crossing the US-Texas border arrived in Washington, DC, near the US Capitol on Friday, April 15, 2022. (Timothy Nerozi / Fox News Digital)
As of February, approximately 220,000 known “fugitives” had fled the border patrol since October 2021, a Homeland Security official told Fox News in February.
However, the legitimacy of Abbott’s move to send buses with migrants to Washington remains in question. 2012 Supreme Court Arizona v. United States, established states cannot pursue their own immigration policies.
Abbott called on Mexico to step up and help reduce the number of illegal immigrants. He threatened economic repercussions during a performance Thursday night at Tucker Carlson Tonight.
“The predictable result is that these Texas state governors will knock on our door and ask for relief,” Abbot told host Tucker Carlson. “As they are asking for relief, we urge them to put in place security measures that will reduce illegal immigration crossing the border.
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