Extra migrants had been dumped in entrance of Kamala Harris’ dwelling on Christmas Eve in freezing climate

CNN
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Several busloads of migrants were dropped off at the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris in Washington DC on Christmas Eve in 18 degree weather late Saturday.

Two busloads were initially taken to local emergency shelters, according to an administration official. Later on Saturday night, more buses arrived in front of the Vice President’s residence. A CNN team saw migrants being dropped off, with some migrants wearing only T-shirts in the freezing weather. They were given blankets and put on another bus that was going to a local church.

Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, which has been taking in migrants sent to DC since the spring, said the organization was prepared for Saturday night’s arrival after being informed earlier by an NGO working at the border had been in Texas.

Arrivers included asylum seekers from Ecuador, Cuba, Nicaragua, Venezuela, Peru and Colombia, according to Fischer, who told CNN the buses were supposed to go to New York but were diverted to DC because of the weather. Busloads of migrants have been arriving in Washington every week since April.

SAMU First Response, a nonprofit organization that has been supporting migrants since buses began arriving in Washington earlier this year, was also on hand Saturday night to help the arrivals.

“Since April, the DC community has always welcomed buses from Texas. Christmas Eve and freezing cold weather are no different,” said Fischer. “We are always here and welcome people with open arms.”

It’s not clear who is responsible for sending the migrants to the Naval Observatory, where the Vice President’s residence is located, although CNN reported earlier this year that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had sent buses north carrying migrants, including to a location outside of Harris’ home. CNN has reached out to Abbott’s office for comment on the recent arrivals.

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However, the White House blamed the Texas governor, calling it a “cruel, dangerous, and shameful stunt.”

“Governor Abbott abandoned children by the side of the road on Christmas Eve in freezing temperatures without coordinating with federal or local authorities,” White House spokesman Abdullah Hasan said in a statement.

“As we’ve said repeatedly, we’re willing to work with anyone — Republicans or Democrats alike — on real solutions, like the sweeping immigration reform and border security measures that President Biden sent to Congress on his first day in office, but this one Successful political games are nothing and only endanger lives,” said Hasan.

Abbott is one of at least three Republican governors who have bused or flown migrants north this year to protest the Biden administration’s immigration policies. He previously confirmed in September that his state had sent the buses to Harris’ residence at the time.

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misidentified the person speaking of their group being prepared for the arrival of the migrants. It was Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network.

This story has been updated with additional information.