DC mayor wants National Guard activated to address wave of migrants bused from GOP-led border states

Bowser previously suggested the Republicans were tricking the migrants into boarding the buses

By Ben Whedon

Published: July 28, 2022 3:03pm

Updated: July 28, 2022 5:42pm

Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday requested the indefinite activation of the district's National Guard forces to handle the mass arrival of migrants from GOP-led border states.

Amid record migration at the Mexico border, the Republican-leaders of the adjacent U.S. states are loading migrants onto buses and sending them to the nation's capital.

More than 4,000 migrants have in recent months been bused to the District of Columbia, according to local TV station NBC-4.

BREAKING: DC @MayorBowser requests @DCNationalGuard activated indefinitely to help migrant busses arriving in DC. Calling it a “humanitarian crisis” that has reached a “tipping point” with 4,000 migrants so far. Requesting DC Armory be used as processing center. @nbcwashington

— Mark Segraves (@SegravesNBC4) July 28, 2022

Bowser, a Democrat, assured residents earlier this month that constituents would not bear the brunt of the expenses related to handling incoming migrants.

"Local taxpayers are not picking up the tab and should not pick up the tab," she said.

The move to bus migrants, led by GOP Govs. Greg Abbott, of Texas, and Doug Ducey, of Arizona, comes as the nation battles with record numbers of migrants crossing the border. Several border counties have pronounced the situation an "invasion," and demanded state or federal action to stem the tide of migrants.