Buses of migrants overwhelm aid groups in DC as more arrive from Texas

Migrants bused to DC overwhelming aid groups

Buses of migrants arriving in D.C. From Texas have nowhere to go. Local aid groups are finding is hard to help everyone and now they're asking for help. FOX 5's Bob Barnard is was at Union Station with more.

WASHINGTON - Buses of migrants arriving from Texas to the nation's capital are overwhelming aid groups in Washington, D.C. that are trying to help.

Download the FOX 5 DC News App for Local Breaking News and Weather

FOX 5's Bob Barnard was at Union Station Friday morning where another bus offloaded dozens of migrants into the street. Barnard says some groups of migrants have been at the train station for days.

Buses of migrants overwhelm aid groups in DC as more arrive from Texas

Buses of migrants arriving from Texas to the nation's capital are overwhelming aid groups in Washington, D.C. that area trying to help.

Groups like the Migrant Solidarity Network are there to welcome the buses and assist the migrants in getting to their destinations but Barnard reports the groups are receiving little to no assistance from local and federal government.

Barnard says some of the migrants he spoke with are hoping to get to other destinations. Some are hoping to stay in D.C. and find works. Others are trying to get back to Texas.

"After giving us water and a slice of pizza, some people benefited with tickets others had to pay and the rest, at 2 in the morning, they were telling us to leave the station, putting us all on the street. And we had to sleep in the street," said migrant from Venezuela who spoke with FOX 5. "We don't have money that's why we're still here and looking for the way to try and find a solution to our problem to get to our destination."

Image 1 of 7

▼

On Thursday, the D.C. City Council sent Mayor Bowser a letter asking her to release contingency funds to care for the migrants, provide staffing to help volunteers aiding the migrants, and also provide a shelter near Union Station.

FOX 5 reached out to Mayor Bowser's office for comment on the situation, but have not heard back.

Texas Gov. Gregg Abbott hopes the effort to bus the migrants to D.C. will get the attention of federal lawmakers and persuade the Biden administration to take action in securing the southern border.

Some migrants transported from Texas to DC left stranded

Local officials are desperately trying to find help for a group of migrants left stranded in D.C. after being transported from Texas on buses. FOX 5's Nana-Sentuo Bonsu reports from Union Station.

The busing of migrants to the nation's capital is part of Operation Lone Star, a joint effort between the National Guard and Texas agencies to clamp down on the flow of migrants coming into Texas from Mexico and to stop the flow of weapons, drugs and human trafficking.

SUBSCRIBE TO FOX 5 DC ON YOUTUBE

Since launching in April, over 3,500 migrants have been transported to Washington in 135 buses.

News Washington, D.C.Immigration Texas