by Jennie Taer
Democrat Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser asked the Pentagon Thursday for a second time to deploy the National Guard to support illegal migrants arriving from the southern border.
“The District of Columbia writes to provide additional information to support our July 19 request to deploy the DC National Guard (DCNG) to help prevent a prolonged humanitarian crisis in our nation’s capital resulting from the daily arrival of migrants in need of assistance,” Bowser wrote in her Thursday letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. “We need help from our federal partners as we seek to stabilize and manage our operating environment in this critical moment.”
Bowser previously requested the deployment, but Austin rejected the request because it would “negatively impact” the force. The Department of Defense (DOD) confirmed to the Daily Caller News Foundation receipt of Bowser’s latest letter.
“The Secretary takes this request for assistance very seriously. He and his team are working through the details, and will respond to the mayor’s office as soon as a decision has been reached,” a Department of Defense (DOD) official told the DCNF.
We need help from our federal partners as we seek to stabilize and manage our operating environment in this critical moment.
I have been honored to work with the men and women of the DC National Guard many times and today we renewed our request for their assistance. pic.twitter.com/FOivGilYZ5
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) August 11, 2022
The illegal migrants are arriving from Texas and Arizona as part of the efforts of Republican Govs. Greg Abbott and Doug Ducey to bus them from the southern border to Washington.
Bowser has been critical of their efforts, saying the governors are “tricking” the migrants into boarding the buses, a narrative debunked by migrants who recently spoke with the DCNF.
“The mission will be limited to DCNG logistical support to help DC Government-and by extension, the lead NGO, SAMU First Response-establish and manage existing and new respite sites. More specifically, DCNG would assist with managing sites inside the District, such as facility management, feeding, sanitation, and ground support,” Bowser wrote.
The migrants, who are often leaving the nation’s capital for their final destinations on the east coast, only usually need the support for 72 hours, Bowser noted.
“The District reiterates its request for the DC Armory or another federal site to serve as a respite center supported with transportation assets from DCNG,” the letter stated.
Bowser’s office didn’t respond to the DCNF’s request for comment.
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Jennie Taer is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation.
Photo “Mayor Bowser” by Mayor Bowser. Background Photo “Pentagon” by Joeyp3413. CC BY-SA 3.0.
