State officials in Texas say busing migrants to Washington will be more like a disaster evacuation and not at all like a kidnapping, addressing criticism from Democrats and some Republicans following Gov. Greg Abbott’s announcement of the plan Wednesday.
The Texas Division of Emergency Management will work directly with towns and cities along the border with Mexico that request transportation for migrants who have been released from custody by the Border Patrol and are allowed to remain in the United States while going through removal and asylum proceedings, according to the chief of media and communications, Seth Christensen.
“The way that we are mobilizing this effort is exactly the same as we would for a mass hurricane evacuation. We have plenty of practice at this,” Christensen said in a phone call with the Washington Examiner Thursday.
Similar to how local officials can request state assistance during a hurricane or flood, they must formally submit an assistance request. The Washington-bound buses will then be dispatched to approved towns where they will pick up passengers and drive nonstop to Washington, Christensen said.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott defended the operation, which has not yet started but is expected to in the coming weeks, as being a voluntary ride and that the state was not “kidnapping” or forcing people to board the buses.
“If I were to go to Washington, D.C. and take you and put you on a bus and take you down to the Rio Grande Valley, that would be kidnapping,” Abbott said during an interview on Fox News Thursday.
Instead, migrants will sign a waiver stating that they are willingly getting on the bus. All migrants will have to show proof of release from either Border Patrol or Immigration and Customs Enforcement that displays when they were discharged from federal custody.
Many migrants who are released into the U.S. are on humanitarian parole, while others are given documents mandating they appear in immigration court. All migrants are either tracked through ankle monitors or cellphone apps, or they must remain in contact with the government through other means. Over the past year, fewer than half of people who illegally crossed the southern border have been released into the U.S., but with encounters topping 150,000 every month, the releases have placed a significant strain on small and large border communities that do not have the shelter space, food, transportation, or other means to help people get to other parts of the country where they have family or friends.
“These migrants, once they come across the border, it’s not as if they want to stay down in the Rio Grande Valley,” Abbott said. “They are moving across the entire country. As they move across the country, what better place for them to go to than the steps of the United States Capitol. They get to see the wonderful Capitol but get closer to the people making these policies that are allowing people to come across the border illegally.”
Noncitizens who illegally cross the border and evade law enforcement will not be allowed to board the buses to Washington, Christensen added.
TDEM would not disclose how much of the $3 billion in border security funding was allotted for the busing effort. The final cost will depend on how many communities ask the state for buses.
TDEM has already contracted the necessary services to facilitate Abbott’s plan, having hired charter buses, private security, and commercial drivers to make the 1,700-mile trip. The state will outfit buses with security officials and potentially more than one driver so they can take turns driving. Buses will only stop to refuel and will not be stopping at hotels or motels.
The state plans to seat 40 people on each bus and has purchased ready-to-eat meals for those on board. It is prepared to mobilize up to 900 charter buses, depending on the demand from local officials.
Every passenger will undergo medical screening before boarding the buses, though no medical personnel or first responders will be on board. Each bus will have a working restroom on board.
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Ken Cuccinelli, a top Homeland Security official during the Trump administration, called the plan a political stunt that fails to address the situation at the border.
“Busing illegals to D.C. is nice showmanship, but nothing here will change the illegal flow into Texas. Ironically enough, Abbott’s going to slow the legal flow with more burdensome inspections. Looking forward to next week for the ‘unprecedented’ part of the announcement,” said Cuccinelli, senior fellow for the Center for Renewing America.
