White House deferring to DOJ on potential legal action against states bussing migrants to cities

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Friday that the White House is allowing the Department of Justice to decide if legal action should be taken against governors for bussing migrants to major cities outside of their states.

Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis are among the governors who have sent migrants to "sanctuary" jurisdictions such as Washington D.C., New York City and Martha's Vineyard. 

"Basically, we're referring, I was asked a question like this yesterday, to the Department of Justice on any legal actions that might be taken or being looked at, certainly, that is for them to take a look at," Jean-Pierre said.

It's been reported that migrants leaving Texas, specifically, sign a document that includes the transferred location.

"Migrants aren’t 'lured' onto the TX buses. All of the migrants sign waivers & pick which city they want to go to, & some are happy for the transport," Fox News reported. "The head of a NGO in Eagle Pass told CNN that migrants go willingly, and they enjoy the 'free ride.'"

CNN recently reported on the process of transferring migrants from Eagle Pass to other cities in the country.

Abbott's press office did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

Jean-Pierre said one migrant was unaware he was going to Martha's Vineyard from Florida until it was announced by the pilot.

"We should not be using people, migrants, who are fleeing communism as a political pawn," she said.

DeSantis defended the transfer of migrants outside of his state.

“One of the reasons why we want to transfer [people is] because, obviously it’s expensive if people are coming here, you've got to pay taxes, social services, and all these other things,” DeSantis said during a news conference in Niceville on Thursday.