A plan by the Governor of Texas to embarrass President Biden by bussing migrants from the US’ southwest border to Washington has backfired.

Governor Greg Abbott devised a plan earlier this year to rattle the Biden administration over its more generous immigration policies as crossings at the border increase. He vowed to “take the border to President Biden”.

But it has not resulted in the chaos hoped for as the scheme seems to fit into the Biden administration’s strategy for responding to the surge in migrant crossings.

As the Trump-imposed health rule – which used the COVID pandemic to restrict migrants entering the US – is lifted at the end of May, it is anticipated that there will be a rise in migrant crossings.

The Biden plan includes working with state and local governments and not for profit organisations to provide support, assistance and transportation to move migrants out of border communities and toward their final destinations in a humane and orderly way.

In reality, the migrants that Texas is sending to Washington are going voluntarily and are just a fraction of the thousands crossing the border daily.

But refugee and migrant support groups say organised support is needed to help settle the migrants.

Executive director of the not for profit Central American Resource Center Abel Nunez said that a community volunteer effort would not be enough to support migrant if Washington becomes a way station or clearing house for more arriving migrants.

He said that without help, the new immigrants would be left in an unfamiliar city and might not have the means or know-how to reach their final destination, instead perhaps having to camp out on the streets or bus stations.

When Governor Abbott announced his plan, migrant advocates in Texas and Washington quickly mobilised, calling for volunteers from community and religious groups.

The advocates have arranged a network of people who share bus information and estimated times of arrival in Washington.

 The Texas governor’s office generally does not reveal when buses are leaving or from where, and there is no advance notice of where the migrants will be dropped off.

“I think he (Gov Abbott) clearly wanted to create some kind of chaos — but the reality is that we’re really well prepared and really excited to welcome these people,” Mr Nunez said.

Governor Abbott, is a two-term Republican who is up for re-election in November.

He has frequently spoken up about the US federal government’s sole authority over immigration matters and implementing initiatives like busing migrants and arresting them for the misdemeanour of trespassing.

His recent plan to inspect all commercial vehicle crossing the  border backfired when it led to massive traffic jams, some as long as 14 hours.

Republicans, as well as some Democratic politicians facing tough re-election races this year, have slammed the Biden administration for its plan to end the temporary policy restricting immigration, known as Title 42.

Even with the policy still in place, crossings at the southwest border have reached record highs: recently about 8,800 a day on average, according to internal data.