Arizona begins busing migrants from Yuma to Washington, DC

PHOENIX — Arizona has started transporting migrants seeking asylum from Yuma to Washington, D.C., a spokesman for Gov. Doug Ducey confirmed Friday.

Two buses with a combined 60 migrants left the Arizona border town for the nation’s capital on Thursday, according to the spokesman.

The migrants going on the estimated 40-hour journey hail from a number of countries in Central America, South America and Africa, the spokesman added.

Arizona will work with non-governmental organizations to assist in the transition after the buses arrive in D.C.

Passengers can get off the bus at any time, but the spokesman said many of their destinations are on the East Coast.

Migrants on the buses are provided meals and onboard staffing and support, according to a Ducey press release from Wednesday.

The state is using the Border Security Fund, which was established by Ducey and the Arizona Legislature last year, to fund the trips.

The spokesman said Arizona will eventually send a bill for the cost of the trips to the Department of Homeland Security, which the Ducey administration has continually blamed for an influx of migrants at the border.

“Our expectation is they will do the right thing,” the spokesman said.

Arizona isn’t the first state to do busing to D.C. Texas started offering charter bus service to Washington last month.

Arizona will continue the shuttles to D.C. as long as there’s interest, according to the spokesman.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Taylor Kinnerup contributed to this report.

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