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Dems Slam Christmas Eve Migrant Drop-Off at VP's House

By Brian Freeman | Monday, 26 December 2022 07:11 AM EST

Democrats harshly criticized Texas Gov. Greg Abbott for busing illegal migrants to the Washington, D.C., home of Vice President Kamala Harris in below-freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve, The Hill reported on Sunday.

"Governor Abbott abandoned children on the side of the road in below freezing temperatures on Christmas Eve without coordinating with any federal or local authorities," White House assistant press secretary Abdullah Hasan said in a statement. "This was a cruel, dangerous, and shameful stunt."

The incident was the latest in an effort by Abbott and other Republican governors over the past several months to protest the Biden administration's immigration policy.

Three busloads of migrants arrived outside the vice president's official residence, on Saturday, ABC 7 reported, with the migrants wrapped in blankets in the below-freezing weather.

After being dropped off, the migrants were taken to a church to receive assistance by the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network.

Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the organization, told ABC 7 that "it really does show the cruelty behind Gov. Abbott in his insistence on continuing to bus people here without care," adding that the migrants "don't have clothes for this kind of weather and they're freezing."

Republican governors have defended the tactic, saying it highlights the difficulties border communities face by forcing northern cities and states to deal with the crisis Republicans say they helped create.

But New York Democrat Rep. Ritchie Torres tore into Abbot, writing on Twitter that "Governor Abbott claims to be a 'pro-life Christian' yet shows no regard for the lives of children left shivering in the freezing cold on Christmas Eve. Dropping off migrants in 18 degree weather is so cruel that it ought to be criminal."

Texas Democrat Rep. Joaquin Castro slammed Abbott in a similar fashion, writing in a tweet that "worthless @GovAbbott dropping off people with no money and no means on Christmas Eve in 15 degree weather near the VP's residence. How Christian of you, Greg Abbott. Being a heartless POS isn't going to make you the next Republican president."

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., added his criticism on Twitter, writing, "Guess we know how Greg Abbott, a 'practicing' Roman Catholic, would have treated Jesus, Mary & Joseph."