The Vice President’s residence was surrounded by busloads of migrants on Christmas Eve in 18 degrees in Washington, DC.
Initially, two busloads of migrants were taken to local shelters, according to officials in the administration. In freezing weather, migrants were dropped off outside the vice president’s residence later Saturday evening. Some migrants were wearing only T-shirts.
A bus took them to a local church where they were given blankets.
The Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, which has been receiving migrants sent to DC since the spring, was prepared for Saturday night’s arrivals, according to Amy Fischer, an NGO working at the border in Texas had informed the organization earlier about it.
According to Fischer, the buses were supposed to go to New York, but were diverted to DC due to the weather. They included asylum seekers from Ecuador, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru and Colombia. Since April, Washington has been receiving busloads of migrants every week.
“DC welcomes buses from Texas every month, even on Christmas Eve and during freezing cold weather. We are always here to welcome folks with open arms,” she added.
It’s unclear who is responsible for sending the migrants to the Naval Observatory, where the vice president’s residence is located, though it was reported this year that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sent buses of migrants north, including to Harris’ home.
Three Republican governors have taken credit for busing or flying migrants north to protest immigration policies under the Biden administration this year, including Abbott. According to him, the buses were sent to Harris’ residence at the time in September.