White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is dismissing a plan by a Republican governor to send illegal immigrants to the nation’s capital as a “stunt.”
During a press briefing on Thursday, Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked, “Now that the Texas governor is saying that he’s going to start bussing border crossers to Washington, D.C., are you guys gonna help them find a place to stay and something for them to do?”
“I’m not aware of what authority the governor would be doing that under,” Psaki responded.
She continued, “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.”
Watch the video below:
Peter Doocy asks Psaki if the White House will find places to stay and something to do for the migrants Texas Gov. Abbott plans on bussing to DC. pic.twitter.com/WGSLHwG6XK
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) April 7, 2022
At a press conference on Wednesday, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) said the state will charter buses to send illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C.
“We 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,” Abbott said.
In case you missed it:
BREAKING: Texas Gov. @GregAbbott_TX says that Texas will be sending charter buses of illegal migrants to Washington DC:
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 6, 2022
"The Biden Administration will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they’re allowing to come across our border." pic.twitter.com/MWM8IqCici
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) also said he has similar plans if illegal immigrants are “dumped” in his state.
On Wednesday, he said, “If businesses or contractors are dumping people who are illegal into Florida from southern Texas, you know, we’re gonna go after their ability to do business in Florida.”
“If Biden is dumping people, which he has dumped people, they fly them in at two in the morning — they haven’t done it lately — but they did it many months ago. We now have money where we can reroute them to sanctuary states like Delaware — and we’re gonna do that — to make sure we’re keeping people safe here,” DeSantis added.
His comments refer to reports that the Biden administration has chartered flights to resettle migrant children in various parts of the country until they can be united with their families or a sponsor.
On April 1, the Biden administration announced it will 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, “The 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.”