On 8/5/2022, during White House Press briefing, a reporter asked White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “Governor Abbott of Texas said today he started sending busloads of migrants to New York in an effort to share responsibility with other states. Does the White House have a reaction to that?”
Jean-Pierre: So, you know, it’s the latest stunt from the governor — another stunt of busing de- — busing desperate migrants across the country. And he’s using them as a political — you know, as a political ploy. I mean, this is what he’s been doing, and it’s shameful. And I’ve said this before — I was asked this last week — and it’s costing — it’s costing the state of Texas $1.5 million. That’s what this game that he’s doing, that he’s playing is costing Texans — $1.5 million. … His secondary inspections of trucks crossing into Texas cost a billion dollars a week in trade at one bridge alone … but instead he wants to play politics; and — and, you know, use the lives of migrants … who are trying to find a better life for themselves — and use them; and also costing his constituents millions of — over a million dollars. That’s what he’s doing.
Reporter: I wanted to follow up on a question that was asked earlier about Governor Abbott’s actions. You called it a stunt. But what kind of support is the administration offering cities who are receiving these migrants? There was a report the Secretary of Defense denied the mayor of D.C.’s request for support from the National Guard. So what kind of support is the administration offering? And if you’re not, why not?
Jean-Pierre: So, we would refer you to the Department of Defense specifically, which makes the decision on the question of the National Guard, as it relates to D.C. — the mayor of D.C. FEMA is also — FEMA is providing support, including through grant funding. So we are helping in that regard. We have had constructive conversations with Mayor Bowser and her team; we’ll continue to do that. We are committed to working with them, … we are indeed providing support through FEMA and having those conversations with leaders.
Reporter: And then, is anyone from the administration talking to Governor Abbott or his office? Are there any kind of conversations —
Jean-Pierre: I do- — I don’t have any calls to read out to you besides what else I just said at the beginning of that — the original question.
The Department of Defense is denying Mayor Muriel Bowser’s request for the D.C. National guard to step in and help with the migrant crisis in the District, saying “This support would negatively impact the readiness of the DCNG (D.C. National Guard) and have negative effects on the organization and members.” Bowser wants the DOD to reconsider her request, “If we were a state, I would’ve deployed the National Guard,” Bowser adds.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s office vowed to send even more busloads of border-crossers to NYC. He vowed to continue to charter buses to both New York and the nation’s capital as his state struggles to deal with the unprecedented number of migrants illegally crossing the US-Mexico border, “I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief.” Adams, who has already warned that NYC’s shelters are being overrun by migrants, turned down Abbott’s invitation to visit the border to see the situation firsthand. While NYC Mayor Adams complained 100 migrants a day, Texas Gov Abbott said, “They’re up in arms about a few thousand people coming into their communities over the past few months? Listen, in any one sector in the state of Texas, we have more than 5,000 people coming across [the border] in that sector every single day.”
Reporter: Thank you. On the subject that Tyler asked about yesterday, the DHS IG. During his campaign in 2020, the President said that he would not fire inspectors general, as his predecessor had, because the job of inspectors general is to keep the government honest.
How does — how does an inspector general who tells his staff to not recover deleted text messages that could help in a congressional investigation, does not notify Congress that there are missing text messages as he’s required to by law, et cetera — how does that keep the government honest?
Jean-Pierre: So, we — we’re looking at the facts and the situation. It is being investigated. So that is — you know, we just don’t speak to that. We know what members of Cong- — the Congress have been saying. We understand the concerns. I hear what you’re saying. But there is — it’s being looked at at this time. And so, we’re just not going to comment on personnel announcement at this time.
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WH: busing migrants to cities is another “stunt” ; NYC complained 100/day, Gov Abbott says 5000/day.