Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News

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Already twice denied National Guard assistance, leadership of Washington, D.C., is looking for ways to cope with what has become quite the burdensome influx of migrants arriving by bus from the states of Texas and Arizona. This week, the congresswoman who represents the nation’s capital introduced a bill that, if passed, would boost that effort. 

The key word in the previous sentence, though, is “if.” And the answer to the question “will this happen” is an all-but-guaranteed “no.” 

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton introduced a bill this week that she hopes will eventually appropriate $50 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to Washington in order to help the city provide various forms of assistance – shelter, food, medicine, etc. – to migrants currently flooding into the city. 

“The governors of Texas and Arizona are exploiting and harming desperate and vulnerable people fleeing dangerous situations in their home countries for political gain,” Norton said in a statement. “I commend the work organizations in D.C. and the National Capital Region have done to assist these migrants, but more funding is needed to assist these families.”

Migrants who arrive in Washington, a sanctuary city, unquestionably face a legitimate crisis upon arrival. As reported by Reuters on Friday, migrants in D.C. have struggled to find medical care and housing. 

As previously reported by FISM, calls have been frequent in both New York and Washington for federal intervention; but Norton’s bill, while certainly an effort in that direction, will prove mostly a ceremonial gesture. 

The bill could pass the House at a moment’s notice, and there would be nothing Republicans could do to stop it, but it faces a brick wall in the Senate, where the long-standing Republican filibuster would likely prove unclearable. 

In short, there is likely no relief coming to D.C. through normal Congressional channels. But the bill’s failure would ultimately prove politically inconsequential to Norton.

One can only assume Norton sincerely wants to allocate money for what is becoming D.C.’s migrant crisis, but her political fortunes will be wholly unaffected or potentially helped even if her efforts go wanting.  

Democrats in the House are in an oddly advantageous, if neutered, position. The left controls the house and can pass any legislation Democrats see fit. 

From an assault weapons ban to a bill guaranteeing contraception rights to another fully codifying gay marriage, there is no matter far enough to the left that Democrats in the House can’t hurl it into the upper chamber, where each and every piece of legislation will die quickly or wither away. 

But, in a midterm election cycle, what better way for House Democrats to appeal to their base than to pass doomed legislation? By doing this, the lower chamber’s Democrats can tell their bases that an effort was made and that Republicans stood in the way. 

This situation plays well in political ads and proves a useful point to launch equally ill-fated attacks on the filibuster, congressional processes, or congressional representation.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, another Democrat, and Norton have both used the migrant crisis to launch renewed calls for D.C. statehood. 

And, of course, we will continue fighting for DC statehood so that, in the future, when the Mayor of DC says that we need the support of the DC National Guard, she has the ability to deploy the Guard.

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) August 22, 2022

“[We] remain focused on working with District agencies and local providers to ensure our local systems can continue to function and that we can continue to meet the very real and significant needs of DC residents,” Bowser tweeted in part of a lengthy thread. “And, of course, we will continue fighting for DC statehood so that, in the future, when the Mayor of DC says that we need the support of the DC National Guard, she has the ability to deploy the Guard.”

Republicans, though, also benefit from Norton’s effort. Republicans have the filibuster, but the Democrats control both houses and the White House. There are ways – not least of which negotiating with Republicans to create more moderate legislation – Democrats could bring bills into law that would help, if not solve, hot-button issues. 

“Reminder: The Democrats control the House, Senate, and White House If they wanted to fix the problem, they would,” Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) tweeted in response to a story about the Pentagon denying D.C. National Guard assistance. “The destruction is intentional.”

Norton’s proposal is the latest attempt by Democrats to shame Republicans in Texas and Arizona to cease busing migrants to the Northeast. Bowser, like Norton, made it a point to blast Republicans.

We know that these unannounced buses are a politically motivated stunt, one that could very quickly lead to a crisis within our own systems. We struggle with a broken immigration system in our country, and we know that cities alone cannot fix it.

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) August 22, 2022

“We know that these unannounced buses are a politically motivated stunt, one that could very quickly lead to a crisis within our own systems,” Bowser tweeted in the same thread. “We struggle with a broken immigration system in our country, and we know that cities alone cannot fix it.”

Thus far, those efforts have proved fruitless. Texas Republican Rep. Chip Roy, one of many foils to Norton in the House, expressed little sympathy for D.C. or its leaders. 

7K illegal migrants flood border states EACH DAY – but DC's Mayor is begging for the National Guard after TX Gov Abbott called her bluff and sent 7k TOTAL since April.

"Cry me a frickin' river …that's what we're dealing with every day." – Rep. Royhttps://t.co/iM3K82Itpc

— Rep. Chip Roy Press Office (@RepChipRoy) August 24, 2022

“[Seven-thousand] illegal migrants flood border states EACH DAY – but DC’s Mayor is begging for the National Guard after [Texas Gov. Greg] Abbott called her bluff and sent 7k TOTAL since April,” Roy tweeted.

He then provided a direct quote from himself, apparently meant for media distribution: “‘Cry me a frickin’ river …that’s what we’re dealing with every day.’ – Rep. Roy.”

Abbott, the main target of Democratic anger in both D.C. and New York, has given no indication of slacking off, much less ending, his efforts to bus migrants to Democrat strongholds. 

“The number of migrants Texas is sending to D.C. & NYC is only a fraction of the burden our communities face due to Pres. Biden’s open border policies,” Abbott tweeted. “Until Biden secures the border, Texas will keep busing migrants to provide relief to our communities.”