“I hope to have dinner,” says a migrant in Mexico before Christmas at 2:30 a.m
(CNN) — Several buses full of immigrants were parked in front of Vice President Kamala Harris’s residence in Washington on Saturday night at a temperature of minus 7 degrees Celsius on Saturday night.
The first two buses were taken to local shelters, according to a government official. More buses arrived outside the Vice President’s residence later on Saturday night. A CNN crew watched as migrants, some wearing only T-shirts, were dropped off in freezing weather. They were given blankets and taken to a local church on another bus.
Amy Fischer, a volunteer with the Migrant Solidarity Mutual Aid Network, a group that has been taking in migrants sent to Washington since the spring, said the organization is prepared for the arrivals. Busloads of immigrants have been arriving in the city weekly since April.
Migrants from Central and South America wait near the residence of Vice President Kamala Harris after being dropped off in Washington September 15, 2022. Credit: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
“The Washington community has welcomed the buses from Texas every time they’ve come since April,” he said. “Christmas Eve and freezing weather are no different. We are always here and we welcome people with open arms.”
It’s not known who is responsible for sending the migrants to the Naval Observatory, although CNN reported earlier this year that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott was sending buses carrying migrants north, including to a location outside Harris’ home .
Abbott is one of at least three Republican governors who have taken credit for busing or flying migrants north this year in protest at the Joe Biden administration’s immigration policies. He previously confirmed in September that his state had sent the buses to Harris’ residence at the time.