Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Says He Will Deliver Illegal Immigrants to Washington D.C., Drop Them at Capitol Hill Steps

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott announced that he will start delivering illegal immigrants to the steps of Washington D.C., as well as inspect vehicles driven in from Mexico.

Abbott described the decision an "unprecedented" response to illegal immigrants influx in the border, according to a Dallas News report.

The Republican governor said that the additional inspections aim to root out smugglers bringing drugs, immigrants, and other "illegal cargo" through the border. He also acknowledged that it will "dramatically slow" traffic from Mexico.

Abbott said at a press conference in Weslaco to continue to ride "all the way to Washington D.C."

Abbott has already sent thousands of state police and Texas National Guard soldiers to the border to arrest migrants on trespassing charges, as well as committing $1 billion to install a barrier along the state's border with Mexico.

The decision was done after U.S. President Joe Biden issued an order to halt the construction of the wall that was started by former U.S. President Donald Trump's administration.

Delivering Illegal Immigrants to Washington D.C.

Abbott said that Texas officials are sending illegal immigrants to the U.S. Capitol Hill where the Biden administration will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across the border, according to The Blaze News report.

The Texas governor added that he was ordering the Texas Division of Emergency Management to manage the project. State officials noted that they were ready to deploy up to 900 charter buses.

Abbott's new announcement on the state's response to illegal immigrants has drawn criticism.

The official Twitter account for United We Dream said that it is a "sick and reprehensible stunt" that will further trigger militarization and violence against people seeking asylum.

The account added that Abbott picked to "meet people with violence" in the governor's "twisted attempt at humiliation."

Gov. Gregg Abbott: Program Is 'Compeletely Voluntary'

Meanwhile, the governor's office clarified that the program is completely voluntary for migrants and would happen only after they had been processed and released by the Department of Homeland Security, according to a Texas Tribune report.

The migrants would be required to show documentation that they had already been processed by the DHS.

Immigration rights groups said that the Texas governor's rhetoric was still dangerous.

Kate Huddleston, a staff attorney at ACLU of Texas, said in a statement that any forcible busing of migrants across the country would be dangerous and "blatantly unconstitutional."

Huddleston added that Abbott backpedaled on his plan, announcing that sending illegal immigrants away will be only voluntary.

Meanwhile, Rep. Matt Schaefer said in a tweet that "it's a gimmick."

The democratic opponent for governor, Beto O'Rourke, said that the announcement was just another example of Abbott "placing bluster over substance."

He added in a statement that Texas would have made some real progress on the migrants' issue if Abbott had focused on solutions instead of stunts.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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