Abbott hits back at ‘hypocrite in chief’ after criticism for busing immigrants to DC on Christmas Eve
Cami Mondeaux
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Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) responded to widespread criticism for his decision to bus more than 100 immigrants to Washington, D.C., on Christmas Eve, decrying President Joe Biden as the “hypocrite in chief” for transporting immigrants to border towns such as El Paso.
Abbott responded to claims that Texas border officials dropped off immigrants without their consent in below-freezing temperatures, claiming those who were transported signed voluntary consent waivers and agreed to the location.
IMMIGRANTS DROPPED OUTSIDE KAMALA HARRIS’S DC RESIDENCE ON CHRISTMAS EVE
“They were processed and released by the federal government, who are dumping them at historic levels in Texas border towns like El Paso, which recently declared a state of emergency because of the Biden-made crisis,” Renae Eze, a spokeswoman for Abbott, told Fox News. “As we have repeatedly said, we are willing to work with anyone — Republican or Democrat alike — on real solutions, like the comprehensive immigration reform and border security measures President Biden sent to Congress on his first day in office, but these political games accomplish nothing and only put lives in danger.”
Abbott approved the transfer of more than 100 immigrants to be dropped off at Vice President Kamala Harris’s residence in the nation’s capital on Christmas Eve, prompting the White House to denounce the incident as a “dangerous and shameful stunt.” The Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network later transported the immigrants to a local church to provide resources and shelter, according to video footage posted to Twitter by 7News.
The Texas governor has been busing immigrants seeking asylum at the southern border to Democratic cities since April, sending more than 8,500 immigrants to Washington, D.C., over the last eight months, according to data from Abbott’s office. He’s also sent thousands of immigrants to other northern cities, such as New York City, Chicago, and Philadelphia.
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The influx of immigrants to Washington, D.C., has prompted an outcry from local lawmakers who have called the move a “humanitarian crisis.” In response, district lawmakers approved the emergency creation of a government office designated to respond to the thousands of immigrants, and the city will seek reimbursement from the federal government, according to the mayor’s office.
Abbott has defended the transfer of immigrants to Democratic cities as a way to bring attention to the border crisis, arguing the Biden administration has not done enough to address the record-high immigration numbers. Roughly 411,000 illegal immigrants were encountered at the southern border in October and November, according to the Center for Immigration Studies — surpassing the total number of immigrants who were apprehended at the border for all of fiscal 2020.