CNN
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Scores of migrants were dropped off in front of Vice President Kamala Harris’ home in Washington on Christmas Eve in 18-degree weather late Saturday.
According to the administration official, two buses were initially taken to local shelters. More buses arrived outside the Vice President’s residence on Saturday evening. A CNN crew saw migrants being abandoned, with some migrants wearing only T-shirts in the freezing weather. They were given blankets and put on another bus to a local church.
Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, which has been receiving migrants sent to DC since the spring, said the organization was ready for Saturday night’s arrival and had been notified in advance by an NGO working at the border. Texas.
The arrivals included asylum seekers from Ecuador, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru and Colombia, Fischer told CNN, adding that the buses were supposed to go to New York but were diverted to DC because of the weather. Migrant buses They have come to Washington Weekly from April.
SAMU First Response, a nonprofit that has been helping immigrants since the buses began arriving in Washington earlier this year, also assisted the visitors Saturday night.
“The DC community welcomes the buses from Texas anytime since April. Christmas Eve and freezing cold weather are no different,” Fischer said. “We always welcome people here with open arms.”
Although CNN reported earlier this year that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had sent busloads of migrants north, it was unclear who was responsible for sending the migrants to the naval observation center, where the vice president’s home is located. Including the location outside Harris’s home. CNN has reached out to Abbott’s office for comment on the latest visits.
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The White House, however, placed the blame on the Texas governor, calling it a “cruel, dangerous and shameful stunt.”
“Governor Abbott abandoned children on the side of the road in sub-freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve without coordinating with any federal or local authorities,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hassan said in a statement.
“As we’ve said time and time again, President Biden sent Congress on his first day on real solutions — Republican or Democratic — on real solutions like comprehensive immigration reform and border security measures, but these political games are getting done. Nothing and only putting lives at risk.” Hasan said.
Abbott is one of at least three Republican governors Bus or fly migrants north This year in protest of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. He had earlier confirmed in September that his government had sent buses to Haris’ residence At the time.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the person who spoke about his group preparing for the arrival of immigrants. That’s Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network.
This story has been updated with additional information.
