The governor of Texas — with some help from Fox News’s Peter Doocy — has triggered White House press secretary Jen Psaki, who suddenly seems to have a case of “NIMBY” when it comes to bussing illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C.
As reported Thursday in BizPac Review, Texas Governor Greg Abbott announced a new plan for dealing with the crisis at his state’s border with Mexico — a crisis that is certain to get much worse when Title 42, a Trump-era measure that helped prevent migrants from entering the United States during a public health emergency, is lifted on May 23: Abbott intends on loading the anticipated surge of undocumented migrants onto chartered buses and sending them to D.C.
Texas announces illegals will now be bussed to Washington, D.C. and dropped at steps of US Capitol https://t.co/B5ghAOFxhK pic.twitter.com/TVIszsBfoK
— Conservative News (@BIZPACReview) April 7, 2022
When asked by Doocy if D.C. was preparing to help the influx of migrants when they arrive, Psaki suddenly seemed to adopt a “Not In My BackYard” mentality, choosing to call Governor Abbott’s authority into question rather than answer Doocy.
“Well, I’m not aware of what authority the governor would be doing that under,” Psaki said. “I think it’s pretty clear this is a publicity stunt. His own office admits that a migrant would need to voluntarily be transported and that he can’t compel them to, because, again, enforcement of our country’s immigration laws lies with the federal government, not with the state.”
Doocy pressed harder, asking again about D.C.’s response.
“Well, listen, I don’t know, but I know that the governor of Texas or any state does not have the legal authority to compel anyone to get on a bus,” Psaki snapped back.
Jen Psaki's blood visibly BOILS when Peter Doocy asks her about TX Gov. @GregAbbott_TX's plans to send illegal border crossers to DC on CHARTER BUSES
Watch. pic.twitter.com/ZcgY69ENtx
— Danny De Urbina (@dannydeurbina) April 7, 2022
At a press conference Wednesday to announce his aggressive plan, Abbott pointed to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s projection of as many as 18,000 migrant apprehensions per day once Title 42 is lifted, a prediction that signals more than a half a million anticipated border crossings a month.
“The Biden Administration’s open-border policies have paved the way for dangerous cartels and deadly drugs to pour into the United States, and this crisis will only be made worse by ending Title 42 expulsions,” Abbott said. “With the end of Title 42 expulsions looming next month, Texas will immediately begin taking unprecedented action to do what no state has done in American history to secure our border.”
So, are the governor’s actions just a “publicity stunt” as Psaki claimed?
Official Biden White House policy is to bus and fly thousands of unvetted illegal immigrants to American towns around the country in the dead of night, but Psaki is calling Governor Abbott’s plan to send illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C. a “publicity stunt.”
— Katie Pavlich (@KatiePavlich) April 7, 2022
Well, the fact that Abbott’s plan relies on the voluntary compliance of the migrants — a fact that was left out of Abbott’s fiery press conference, but was revealed in a statement from the governor’s office — has even some Republicans questioning the true intent.
“Governor Abbott has directed TDEM to charter buses and flights to transport migrants who have been processed and released from federal custody to Washington, D.C.,” the release reads. “To board a bus or flight, a migrant must volunteer to be transported and show documentation from DHS. Mayors and county judges can notify TDEM of any DHS-facilitated drop-off of migrants in their communities so that the agency can provide appropriate transportation.”
As The Blaze notes, “To voluntarily go to D.C., illegal immigrants will have to show documentation that they’ve already been processed by DHS.”
It is this detail that has silenced many of the initial cheers for Abbott’s bold move.
“It’s a gimmick,” tweeted Rep. Matt Schaefer (R-TX).
Michael Quinn Sullivan, publisher of the Texas Scorecard, agreed.
“It’s a stunt, and not a very good one,” said Sullivan. “Seal the border. Forcibly march the illegal aliens back across That’s real.”
“An optional bus ride to DC is not real,” Sullivan added.
And Blaze host and former Texas gubernatorial candidate Chad Prather urged the governor to “do better.”
“Big government shill, campaign stunt, and actually, it sucks,” Prather said in a tweeted video. “Do better, Greg Abbott. A lot better.”
It’s a gimmick. #txlege https://t.co/pVFckS49WC
— Matt Schaefer (@RepMattSchaefer) April 6, 2022
So, of course, the Greg Abbott “charter bus for illegals to DC” is voluntary for the illegal aliens. It’s a stunt, and not a very good one.
Seal the border. Forcibly march the illegal aliens back across. That’s real.
An optional bus ride to DC is not real.
— Michael Quinn Sullivan🇺🇸 (@MQSullivan) April 6, 2022
Driving to the border to see how many illegals volunteer to jump in the truck for a ride to DC. Dumb campaign stunt Gov. Abbott. Do better. pic.twitter.com/UxCUNvJoGq
— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) April 7, 2022
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Melissa Fine is the former executive editor of Casino Player, Strictly Slots, and Poker
Digest magazines. She is a UCLA graduate, news junkie, and dedicated Stargate SG-
1 fan. Melissa currently lives with her dog and two cats in a tiny town in the Sierra
Nevada foothills.
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