Washington (AP) — The District of Columbia has called for National Guard assistance to stop the “increasing humanitarian crisis” caused by thousands of migrants sent to Washington from two southern states.
Mayor Muriel Bowser formally requested the White House to free up 150 National Guards per day and a “appropriate federal location” for large housing and processing centers, making DC Armory a logical candidate. I listed it as. On July 21, she met with Liz Sherwood Randall, Homeland Security Adviser, and Julie Chavez Rodriguez, director of the White House office on intergovernmental issues.
The crisis began in the spring, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey responded to President Joe Biden’s decision to lift emergency medical orders during the Pandemic era and limit immigrant immigration. Announced plans to send large numbers of immigrants to Washington, DC. ..
Since then, the city estimates that nearly 200 buses have arrived, carrying more than 4,000 migrants to Union Station. Often there are no resources and you don’t know what to do next.
A coalition of local charities has been working to feed and protect migrants with the support of a $ 1 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, the organizers warn that both resources and personnel are nearing depletion.
“This dependence on NGOs is not working and is unsustainable. NGOs are overwhelmed and underfunded,” Bowser said in a letter. She reiterates that her influx emphasizes the government’s ability to care for her homeless residents and she needs the intervention of the Biden government.
“We know there is a federal issue that demands a federal response,” Kuppa said at a press conference on July 18.
In his letter, Bowser accused Abbott and Ducey of “cruel political gamesmanship,” and harshly criticized him for “deciding to use desperate people to earn political points.”
Bowser does not have the authority to personally order the deployment of National Guard. This is a problem that has been emotionally appealed in recent years as a symbol of the established status of districts that are inferior to the state.
Her limited authority played a role in a riot in the Capitol on January 6, 2021, by supporters of former President Donald Trump. Bowser was unable to immediately deploy district guards when it became clear that the United States Capitol Police was overwhelmed by the crowd. Instead, significant time was lost while the request was being considered within the Pentagon, and protesters rampaged the building.