The Department of Defense (DOD) on Friday denied Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s request for National Guard troops to assist with what she has called a “growing humanitarian crisis” regarding the migrants being sent to the nation’s capital.
Since April, Republican Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona have sent more than 7,000 migrants on voluntary bus rides to the nation’s capital.
In a letter to Christopher Rodriguez, director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency in Washington, D.C., Kelly Bulliner Holly, executive secretary of the DOD, stated that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) had provided local nonprofits with enough resources to handle the influx of migrants.
“After careful consideration the Department has concluded it cannot fulfill your request,” the letter obtained by NBC News read.
“I understand a non-Governmental Organization (NGO), SAMU First Response, has received federal grant funding via the Emergency Food and Shelter Program by FEMA for this mission,” Holly’s letter continued. “Notably this program supplements funding for humanitarian relief efforts by government and social service organizations for the purposes of providing shelter and supportive services to families and individuals.”
A DOD spokesperson confirmed the denial in a statement to multiple news outlets.
“We have determined providing this support would negatively impact the readiness of the DCNG and have negative effects on the organization and members,” the spokesperson said.
Bowser had requested an open-ended deployment of 150 National Guard members and a “suitable federal location” for a mass housing and processing center.
The mayor has labeled the situation “a federal issue that demands a federal response.”
The nonprofits assisting the migrants arriving in D.C. received a $1 million FEMA grant but have warned that their resources and personnel are being exhausted.
“This reliance on NGOs is not working and is unsustainable — they are overwhelmed and underfunded,” Bowser stated in her request.
Reuters reported Wednesday that Bowser’s request had caused tensions within the Biden administration.
White House officials reportedly disagreed with Bowser calling the situation a “crisis,” a word the administration has avoided using when discussing the border, and described her request as unnecessary.
In a Friday morning press conference, Bowser said she was aware the request was denied but doubled down on calling the situation a “crisis” that requires a federal response.
She added that her office might send an amended request to DOD, saying the city is overwhelmed.
“When we have a growing humanitarian crisis that we expect, that the federal government expects is only going to worsen, I have got to deploy the resources that I need to handle it and we need our National Guard,” she said.
Bowser claimed that D.C. is not the final destination for many migrants arriving in the area, so a site where NGOs can assist those waiting to go elsewhere is necessary.
“In many cases, they are boarding buses being lied to about what’s going to be on the other end and they’re still not where they want to be,” she claimed. “Now if the federal government’s not going to do it, they need to at least get out of our way and give us the resources that we need and our National Guard and a site.”
Gov. Abbott, who has been highly critical of the Biden administration’s border policies, said Bowser is only seeing a fraction of the problem that border states are facing.
“Washington D.C. finally understands what Texans have been dealing with every single day, as our communities are overrun and overwhelmed by thousands of illegal immigrants thanks to President Biden’s open border policies,” read a statement from Gov. Abbott’s office in response to Bowser’s request for National Guard assistance.
On Friday, Gov. Abbott announced he was beginning to offer migrants voluntary bus rides to New York City as well, with the first bus arriving Friday morning.
“Because of President Biden’s continued refusal to acknowledge the crisis caused by his open border policies, the State of Texas has had to take unprecedented action to keep our communities safe,” said Gov. Abbott.
“In addition to Washington, D.C., New York City is the ideal destination for these migrants, who can receive the abundance of city services and housing that Mayor Eric Adams has boasted about within the sanctuary city,” the governor added. “I hope he follows through on his promise of welcoming all migrants with open arms so that our overrun and overwhelmed border towns can find relief.”