White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre slammed Republican governors who are sending migrants to different states.
Jean-Pierre’s comments come after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent two full planes of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts on Wednesday. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also sent two buses containing over 100 migrants near Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, D.C. on Thursday.
White House press sec calls Republican govs sending migrants to blue states 'illegal stunt' https://t.co/m9rJhNyYRh
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“What they are doing is an illegal stunt, is a political stunt. And it’s really just disrespectful to humanity. It doesn’t afford them any dignity, what they’re doing when you are abandoning families and children in a place where they were told they were going to get housing,” Jean-Pierre said during Thursday’s press briefing. “It is just cruel, and it’s not about the process. Actually, It’s about a political tool or political stunt that they’re moving forward with.”
The press secretary also condemned Republicans in power for using migrants as “political pawns” and said these are people who are “fleeing communism.”
“There’s a legal way of doing this. And for managing migrants, Republican governors, interfering in that process and using migrants as political pawns is shameful, is reckless and just plain wrong. And remember, these are people who are fleeing communism, who are fleeing hardship,” Jean-Pierre said.
According to Fox News, the two planes DeSantis sent to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts are a part of Florida’s plan to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.
“Yes, Florida can confirm the two planes with illegal immigrants that arrived in Martha’s Vineyard today were part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations,” a spokesperson for DeSantis told Fox News.
“States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as ‘sanctuary states’ and support for the Biden administration’s open border policies,” they continued.
Meanwhile, Abbott has argued that border towns in Texas are overwhelmed, and officials in liberal cities should face the realities of the southern border crisis. Abbott has sent dozens of migrant-filled buses to Washington, D.C., New York City, and Chicago in recent weeks.
