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Bowser, a Democrat, has clamored in recent weeks for federal
funds to provide shelter and services to migrants arriving on
buses from the two Republican-led states, which sought to make a
political statement by sending border crossers to Washington.
"Our ability to assist people in need at this scale is very
limited," Bowser said in a letter to White House officials,
adding that non-profit organizations welcoming migrants in
Washington are "overwhelmed and underfunded."
Texas Governor Greg Abbott, a Republican running for reelection
in November midterm elections, blames U.S. President Joe Biden's
immigration policies for record numbers of migrant arrests at
the border with Mexico.
The governor announced in April the state would bus migrants to
Washington, saying "Texas should not have to bear the burden of
the Biden administration’s failure to secure our border."
Texas has sent over 150 buses carrying more than 6,000 migrants
to Washington since April, according to Abbott's office.
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, another Republican, launched a
similar effort in May and has bused more than 1,000 migrants,
his office has said.
Some 85% to 90% of the arriving migrants continue to other U.S.
destinations by bus or plane, according to two groups working to
welcome the migrants in Washington.
Migrant advocates and Washington city council members have
called on Bowser to devote city funds to the reception effort,
but the mayor has said the federal government must step in.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams, another Democrat, has similarly
said in recent weeks that migrant arrivals have taxed his city's
shelter system and called on the Biden administration to provide
funding.
(Reporting by Ted Hesson in Washington; Editing by Chris Reese)
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