While Gov. Greg Abbott has been touting the voluntary busing of illegal aliens from the southern border to Washington, D.C., and New York, Arizona Republican gubernatorial nominee Kari Lake is blasting the program as a “cute photo op.”
Lake made the comments during an appearance at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas on Friday, saying she was “not a fan” of the program that has also been implemented by Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.
“It’s a cute photo op, but it just places people who shouldn’t be here further into the country,” said Lake.
VIDEO: @KariLake blasts Texas scheme to voluntary bus illegals from the border to Washington DC as a "cute photo op" during @CPAC panel pic.twitter.com/g9Fi4ZVBTR
— Brandon Waltens (@bwaltens) August 5, 2022
In contrast, Lake has championed declaring the crisis on the southern border as an invasion, which would allow the state to repel illegal aliens without assistance or dependance on the federal government.
“I think we should bring the buses, drive them to the border, and send them the other way,” Lake said to applause.
Article I, Section 10, Clause 3 of the U.S. Constitution allows for states to repel an invasion themselves by utilizing their state guards. Declaring an invasion would also allow for governors to enter into an interstate compact to secure the border.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also called on Texas to declare an invasion, but Abbott has so far declined to do so.
In April, Abbott announced his plan to send illegal aliens away from the border and into the country on buses; some conservatives derided the plan as a gimmick. In order to board a taxpayer-funded bus or flight, an illegal alien must volunteer to be transported and provide documentation from the Department of Homeland Security showing that they had been detained and released.
Abbott says 6,500 illegals have been transported in the scheme.
