Pentagon rejects request for National Guard migrant help

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - The Pentagon has once again denied a request from the District of Columbia seeking National Guard assistance in dealing with thousands of migrants being bused to the city from Texas and Arizona.

According to the Associated Press, the Defense Department said use of the National Guard would be inappropriate and would hurt the overall readiness of the troops, forcing some to cancel or disrupt military training.

The letter said the department is also concerned about putting military members in direct contact with migrants to provide food, sanitation or other support - saying they are not trained in that area.

During the spring, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey announced plans to send busloads of migrants to Washington, D.C., in response to President Joe Biden’s decision to lift a pandemic-era emergency health order that restricted migrant entry numbers by denying them a chance to seek asylum. The rule remains in effect under court order.

According to the Governor's Office, as of August 5th, Texas had bused more than 7,000 migrants to D.C., and more than 900 to New York City.

Meanwhile, Arizona has sent over 1,500 migrants to D.C. as of August 22nd.