The Republican governor, an outspoken critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies, and some other Republican governors are moving migrants to Democratic-controlled cities in the northern United States.
Texas has bused thousands of migrants to Washington, New York City and Chicago in what some critics have labeled a stunt amid national debate over high levels of immigrant arrivals at the US southern border.
Laborde said nine busloads of migrants have been dropped off in Washington in the past week.
“Recently, what we’re seeing is an increase in people from Ecuador and Colombia,” Laborde said. He said that before, many Venezuelans were coming by bus.
Many recent arrivals are now trying to get to New York or New Jersey where they have relatives or other community support, Laborde said.