White House press secretary Jen Psaki claims Texas Gov. Greg Abbott “declined” money provided by the federal government to pay for coronavirus testing for illegal immigrants, adding that the administration hopes “he’ll reconsider.”
“The governor has complained about testing at the border,” Psaki said in a Sunday interview with MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart. “He’s shared details that are not fact-based, but to be crystal clear here, FEMA, DHS has worked with local authorities, has worked with local NGOs [nongovernmental organizations] to come up with a plan that would cover 100% of testing costs for migrants who cross the border.”
“He has declined that funding,” she continued. “That is something that doesn’t help the people of Texas, and we’re certainly hopeful that he’ll reconsider.”
Psaki’s comments follow claims from Abbott, a Republican, who earlier in the week said the Biden administration was “recklessly releasing” virus-positive illegal immigrants in his state.
“The Biden Administration is recklessly releasing hundreds of illegal immigrants who have COVID into Texas communities,” the governor wrote in a Wednesday tweet. “The Biden Admin. must IMMEDIATELY end this callous act that exposes Texans & Americans to COVID.”
Abbott, in later statements, amid reports that he was “stalling” the federal government’s initiative to provide money to conduct the test, said the administration indicated it didn’t have “sufficient resources.”
“Instead of doing their job, the Biden administration suggested it did not have the sufficient resources and, remarkably, asked Texas to assist them in aiding their illegal immigration program,” he said on Thursday. “Texas refused.”
The conflict follows news that over 100 virus-positive illegal immigrants were released by U.S. Border Patrol since January. City officials in Brownsville, Texas, reported the development, and the number represents 6.3% of all migrants who have passed through the station after being released by Border Patrol since rapid-testing started on Jan. 25. Many of the freed individuals were permitted to travel deep into the country.
On Thursday, Psaki addressed questions about the issue and said the governor’s claim that the administration was “importing COVID into the country” was “not factual.”
“Sure. Well, we’re around fact — we’re about facts around here,” she said. “That is not factual. So let me give you an overview of what happens.”
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“When migrants are placed in alternatives to detention, their COVID-19 testing — our policy is for COVID-19 testing to be done at the state and local level and with the help of NGOs and local governments,” the press secretary continued. “And that, certainly, is something that our policy is, is to have that be done — concluded — before they are even moved to go stay with family members or others they may know while their cases are being adjudicated.”
Abbott’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Washington Examiner.
