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DC mayor asks for National Guard to help with migrants
After years of calling the nation's capital a "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is now pleading with the White House to send in the National Guard to deal with a flood of undocumented migrants who have been arriving on buses from border states.
WASHINGTON (FOX 5 DC) - DC's request for the National Guard to provide assistance with the transportation and reception of migrants arriving on busses in the region has been denied.
A Department of Defense spokesman says "providing this support would negatively impact the readiness of the DCNG and have negative effects on the organization and members."
READ MORE: DC requests National Guard assistance to help with migrant bussing crisis
The DOD also says SAMU First Response has indicated that they are able to provide migrant assistance.
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Protestors upset over Mayor Bowser's call for Nat. Guard help with migrants
Protestors aren't pleased with how Mayor Muriel Bowser is handling the migrant situation in D.C. On Thursday, demonstrators crashed her early birthday event in Southwest to ask her why she isn't providing sanctuary for the migrants being dropped off in D.C. from border states.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser requested the National Guard's assistance to deal with a flood of undocumented migrants who have been arriving on buses from border states.
Busloads of illegal immigrants have been arriving at Union Station from states like Texas where Governor Greg Abbott started sending migrants as a way to bring the illegal immigration issue to Washington.
READ MORE: Buses of migrants overwhelm aid groups in DC as more arrive from Texas
The statement from the DOD can be read in full below:
"The Secretary of Defense has declined to approve the DCHSEMA request for DCNG to provide personnel and the DC Armory to assist the NGO, SAMU First Response, with transportation and reception of migrants arriving in the DC area. We have determined providing this support would negatively impact the readiness of the DCNG and have negative effects on the organization and members. We understand SAMU First Response has received grant funding through FEMA’s Emergency Food and Shelter Program, and has indicated that sufficient EFSP funds exist at this point to provide migrant assistance."