Texas gov drops off busloads of migrants near Kamala Harris’ home in D.C., after DeSantis sends planeloads of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard

Joseph Wilkinson, Theresa Braine

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott dumped two busloads of people off near Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning, hours after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew two planeloads of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard Wednesday afternoon.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott dumped two busloads of people off near Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott dumped two busloads of people off near Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning.


Texas Gov. Greg Abbott dumped two busloads of people off near Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, D.C., Thursday morning. (Kevin Dietsch/)

Abbott was continuing his busing blitz that has seen thousands of people sent to Washington since April, with New York and Chicago added last month. At least 9,800 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City since Abbott’s policy began here Aug. 5.

New York, Chicago take different approaches to migrant buses sent from Texas

Arizona, and now Florida, have followed suit in transporting migrants to large northern cities to antagonize President Biden over what Republican leaders say is lax attention being paid to a crisis at the border with Mexico.

Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard.
Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard.


Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette/)

“We are not a sanctuary state, and it’s better to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction, and yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures,” DeSantis said on Thursday.

A woman, who is part of a group of immigrants that had just arrived, holds a child as they are fed outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard.
A woman, who is part of a group of immigrants that had just arrived, holds a child as they are fed outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard.


A woman, who is part of a group of immigrants that had just arrived, holds a child as they are fed outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette/)

About 50 migrants arrived on two planes to Martha’s Vineyard, said Massachusetts state Sen. Julian Cyr, whose district includes the island. The migrants are Venezuelan and include seven families. The planes landed soon after 3 p.m. Wednesday and their occupants were taken to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, Cyr added.

The flights reportedly originated in San Antonio, Texas, and those aboard told Massachusetts officials they had initially been told they were being sent to Boston.

Meanwhile, two buses from Texas dropped people near Harris’ residence Thursday morning. It wasn’t clear if the vice president was home at the time. Volunteers who had been awaiting the buses’ arrival at Union Station, where past busloads of migrants were dropped off, were surprised to see the change in location.

Two buses of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border were dropped off near Vice President Kamala Harris' home in residential Washington on Thursday, Sept. 15.
Two buses of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border were dropped off near Vice President Kamala Harris' home in residential Washington on Thursday, Sept. 15.


Two buses of migrants from the U.S.-Mexico border were dropped off near Vice President Kamala Harris' home in residential Washington on Thursday, Sept. 15. (Susan Walsh/)

“We’re sending migrants to her backyard to call on the Biden Administration to do its job & secure the border,” Abbott tweeted.

The political feud over the migrants’ fate left about two dozen men and women standing outside the U.S. Naval Observatory, near Harris’ home, at dawn on Thursday. They had nothing but the clear plastic bags of belongings they had carried over the border. They were taken to a church nearby. Harris’ office had no immediate comment.

Migrants from Venezuela, who boarded a bus in Texas, wait to be transported to a local church by volunteers after being dropped off outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C., on Sep. 15, 2022.
Migrants from Venezuela, who boarded a bus in Texas, wait to be transported to a local church by volunteers after being dropped off outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C., on Sep. 15, 2022.


Migrants from Venezuela, who boarded a bus in Texas, wait to be transported to a local church by volunteers after being dropped off outside the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington, D.C., on Sep. 15, 2022. (STEFANI REYNOLDS/)

Both moves left volunteers and officials scrambling, though they were not rattled.

Martha’s Vineyard has considered itself a “sanctuary destination” that welcomes migrants since early in the previous presidency.

Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard.
Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard.


Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette/)

“Our island jumped into action putting together 50 beds, giving everyone a good meal, providing a play area for the children, making sure people have the healthcare and support they need,” tweeted Massachusetts state Rep. Dylan Fernandes, who also represents Martha’s Vineyard. “We are a community that comes together to support immigrants.”

Migrants from Central and South America wait near the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris after being dropped off on Sept. 15, 2022 in Washington, D.C.
Migrants from Central and South America wait near the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris after being dropped off on Sept. 15, 2022 in Washington, D.C.


Migrants from Central and South America wait near the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris after being dropped off on Sept. 15, 2022 in Washington, D.C. (Kevin Dietsch/)

At the same time, he decried the strategy of sending “immigrant families like cattle on an airplane. “Ship them, women and children, to a place they weren’t told where they were going, and never alerted local officials and people on the ground here that they were coming. It is ... depraved.”

California Gov. Gavin Newsom Thursday called for a federal investigation into the immigrant relocation policies.

“Clearly, transporting families, including children, across state lines under false pretenses is morally reprehensible, but it may also be illegal,” Newsom wrote in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland.

In his letter, Newsom suggested that the political ploy by Abbott and DeSantis may amount to a kidnapping scheme and suggested possible RICO charges.

The Justice Department has not publicly responded to Newsom’s letter.

With News Wire Services

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