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Pentagon denies plea to help with migrant buses to Washington | Pentagon denies plea to help with migrant buses to Washington |
(about 4 hours later) | |
Migrants arrive in Washington DC after long bus journeys from Texas | |
The Pentagon has rejected a request from Washington DC's mayor for help in dealing with thousands of undocumented migrants who have been transported to the city from border states. | The Pentagon has rejected a request from Washington DC's mayor for help in dealing with thousands of undocumented migrants who have been transported to the city from border states. |
Arizona and Texas say the buses are being routed to the US capital and New York City to spread out the burden of unprecedented migration. | Arizona and Texas say the buses are being routed to the US capital and New York City to spread out the burden of unprecedented migration. |
New York officials accuse them of using "human beings as political pawns". | New York officials accuse them of using "human beings as political pawns". |
Migration across the US-Mexico border has surged to record levels. | Migration across the US-Mexico border has surged to record levels. |
Conservatives have slammed the immigration policies of US President Joe Biden, a Democrat, including his efforts to lift a pandemic-related order that has kept out most asylum seekers. | Conservatives have slammed the immigration policies of US President Joe Biden, a Democrat, including his efforts to lift a pandemic-related order that has kept out most asylum seekers. |
On Friday it emerged that the US Department of Defense has rejected Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's request for National Guard troops to help process the migrants. | On Friday it emerged that the US Department of Defense has rejected Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser's request for National Guard troops to help process the migrants. |
Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the troops' "readiness" might be affected if they were diverted to assist with the reception of migrants to the city, a US defence official told Reuters news agency. | Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said the troops' "readiness" might be affected if they were diverted to assist with the reception of migrants to the city, a US defence official told Reuters news agency. |
What are Biden's problems at the border? | What are Biden's problems at the border? |
In a news conference on Friday, Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, said the city would resubmit "a more specified request for help", and continue to work towards converting the DC Armory or nearby military bases into migrant processing centres. | In a news conference on Friday, Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, said the city would resubmit "a more specified request for help", and continue to work towards converting the DC Armory or nearby military bases into migrant processing centres. |
The mayor said migrants were being "tricked" into making the journey, calling their arrival a "crisis" for the city. | The mayor said migrants were being "tricked" into making the journey, calling their arrival a "crisis" for the city. |
She accused the Republican governors of Arizona and Texas of "cruel political gamesmanship" and said they had "decided to use desperate people to score political points". | She accused the Republican governors of Arizona and Texas of "cruel political gamesmanship" and said they had "decided to use desperate people to score political points". |
On Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he had started to send buses carrying migrants to New York City. He has already sent at least 5,200 migrants to Washington since April. | On Friday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he had started to send buses carrying migrants to New York City. He has already sent at least 5,200 migrants to Washington since April. |
About 50 migrants from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras and Venezuela alighted in midtown Manhattan at Port Authority Bus Terminal. | About 50 migrants from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras and Venezuela alighted in midtown Manhattan at Port Authority Bus Terminal. |
They included a family of four from Colombia, who ended up at a homeless centre in the Bronx. One of them, mother-of-two Leidy, told Reuters: "It's a little easier to enter the country now. Before it was very hard to come here with children." | They included a family of four from Colombia, who ended up at a homeless centre in the Bronx. One of them, mother-of-two Leidy, told Reuters: "It's a little easier to enter the country now. Before it was very hard to come here with children." |
Governor Abbott said President Biden's "refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies" had forced Texas to "take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe". | Governor Abbott said President Biden's "refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies" had forced Texas to "take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe". |
He said that New York and Washington DC were ideal destinations as self-proclaimed sanctuary cities - Democratic-led jurisdictions around the US that limit their co-operation with federal immigration law enforcement. | |
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, also a Republican, has already sent around 1,000 migrants to Washington DC. The governors say the journeys are voluntary, and are an effort to help reunite families in the US. | Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, also a Republican, has already sent around 1,000 migrants to Washington DC. The governors say the journeys are voluntary, and are an effort to help reunite families in the US. |
On Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the bus trips "shameful" and a waste of taxpayers' dollars. | On Friday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the bus trips "shameful" and a waste of taxpayers' dollars. |
Officials have declined to specify the financial cost of the bus journeys. In June, a Texas TV network put the costs at about $1,400 (£1,150) per traveller. | Officials have declined to specify the financial cost of the bus journeys. In June, a Texas TV network put the costs at about $1,400 (£1,150) per traveller. |