The Democratic mayor of Washington DC, Muriel Bowser, declared a public emergency to address the massive arrival of illegal migrants sent from Arizona and Texas. The governors of these states consider that it is the responsibility of federal authorities to care for migrants due to President Joe Biden’s open borders policy.
The emergency declaration allows Bowser to establish an Office of Migration Services to provide necessary assistance to illegal migrants. The office will be part of the Department of Human Services (DHS) and will direct funds to NGOs to take action, starting with $10 million.
LIVE: Mayor Bowser Establishes Office of Migrant Services https://t.co/T6NgFSResl
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) September 8, 2022
Bowser also announced that she will send emergency legislation to the D.C. Council to support the new legal framework for immigration assistance.
“This is a new challenge for DC, but I feel confident that if we lead with our values, and if we put the right systems in place – which we are doing with the Office of Migrant Services, then we will lead a response that makes our community proud,” Bowser said in a statement.
The office will be able, according to Bowser’s intentions, to receive all buses and facilitate onward travel, triage the needs of people arriving in Washington DC, address their basic needs, and establish a system to ensure the District’s response to this humanitarian crisis.
It will also provide support with meals, temporary housing, urgent medical needs, transportation to final destinations, connection to resettlement services, translation services, and other needs as determined.
According to the letter from Bowser’s office, about 9,400 illegal migrants have arrived from Texas and Arizona, although many of them have ended up outside of Washington, DC.
Tomás Lugo, journalist and writer. Born in Venezuela and graduated in Social Communication. Has written for international media outlets. Currently living in Colombia // Tomás Lugo, periodista y articulista. Nacido en Venezuela y graduado en Comunicación Social. Ha escrito para medios internacionales. Actualmente reside en Colombia.