Global Courant
California Governor Gavin Newsom is urging Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate Florida’s transportation of illegal immigrants to his state, on charges that Florida misled migrants to travel to California and elsewhere.
Newsom, along with Attorney General Rob Bonta and Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, wrote to Garland about Florida’s “unauthorized alien transportation program,” which flies migrants to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions in the U.S.
The program has transported migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts and to California. It received additional funding signed into law earlier this year by Governor Ron DeSantis and is one of many similar initiatives some Republican states have implemented in response to the ongoing border crisis.
DESANTIS DEFENDS MIGRANTS TO CALIFORNIA, BLAMES SHRINE JURISDICTIONS FOR ENCOURAGING ‘OPEN BORDER’
In his letterNewsom says that while it’s common practice for jurisdictions and NGOs to facilitate travel elsewhere in the US, “this schedule is different.” The letter quotes news reports that migrants were tricked into taking flights “on the basis of promises of jobs and shelter”.
Governor Gavin Newsom is furious about the shipments of migrants from Florida to his state. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)
He also said an investigation into the Martha’s Vineyard flight concluded that migrants were indeed based on false representations and promises of housing and employment.
Florida has denied these claims and similar “kidnapping” allegations by California officials. Last month, the Florida Division of Emergency Management told Fox News in an email that the migrants had flown voluntarily.
“Through oral and written consent, these volunteers indicated their intention to go to California. A contractor was present and made sure they arrived safely at a third-party NGO,” the email said. The office also provided videos of what appeared to be migrants signing consent forms and talking about how they had been treated “super well”.
DeSantis has also defended the flights, arguing that it is right that states that have encouraged migrants to flock to the border should house them.
NEWSOM THREATS DESANTIS WITH ‘KIDNAPPING CHARGES’ OVER MIGRAN FLIGHTS TO SACRAMENTO
DeSantis has accused sanctuaries jurisdictions of hypocrisy over migrant flights. (Fox News Photo/Joshua Comins)
“They attacked the previous government’s attempts to try to have border security. And so that’s the policy they’re putting out. And then what? When they’re supposed to reap the rewards of that, they suddenly get very, very shocked? “
“I don’t think we should have all of this. But if there’s a policy to have an open border, then I think the sanctuary jurisdictions should be the ones to carry that,” DeSantis said. “We’re not a Florida refuge.”
But Newsom is doubling down on his calls to action on the matter. In the letter, he urges DOH “to open federal criminal and civil investigations into these incidents.”
FLORIDA OFFICIALS CONFIRM STATE BEHIND MIGRANTE FLIGHTS TO CALIFORNIA AS NEWSOM THREATS ‘DEFORMATION’ CHARGES
“It is unconscionable to use people as political props by persuading them to travel to another state on the basis of false or deceptive representations. We urge USDOJ to investigate possible violations of federal law by those involved in this plan involved,” he said.
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The letter comes because immigration remains a hot topic in the US. The US is still grappling with a border crisis now entering its third year. The Biden administration has touted a drop in border detentions since early May, but some of its policies face legal challenges from Republican states.
Meanwhile, DeSantis recently outlined his border security policies as part of his 2024 presidential bid. He has pledged to “stop the invasion” and close the border on the first day of his presidency to end the crisis.
Adam Shaw is a political reporter for Fox News Digital, primarily covering immigration and border security.
He can be reached at adam.shaw2@fox.com or at Twitter.
