FL Democrats Seek Investigation Into DeSantis Use Of Tax Money For Migrant Flights

FLORIDA — Democratic Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried is calling on U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland to launch a federal investigation into the transportation of 50 undocumented immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, at the expense of Florida taxpayers.

Florida Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist also asked for a release of records about the flight, and condemned DeSantis' actions.

“It was all a fraud; it was all a stunt. And it was cruel, and it was unusual, and it was awful," Crist said. "And taking children on that plane, too? I mean, I’ve seen the pictures from Martha’s Vineyard and it shocks the conscience of any decent human being.”

As part of his protest of what he calls the Biden Administration's lax border policies, on Wednesday Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had two planeloads of migrants flown to the island off Cape Cod, thehome to former Democratic President Barack Obama.

The 50 migrants arrived without notice on two planes chartered by DeSantis, prompting local authorities on the island to scramble to provide shelter and food for the unexpected visitors.

“Gov. DeSantis has fallen to a new low, using families and children to gain political attention for his own ambitions," Fried said in her letter to Garland. "However you may feel about our immigration situation, transporting 50 migrants across the country to a small town without notice shows a complete disregard for human life, and very well may be illegal."

She urged Garland to launch an immediate investigation, saying "the use of human beings to score political points is first and foremost detestable. Additionally, this maneuver raises serious legal questions and will have untold repercussions on the individuals caught up in the governor’s political stunt. An investigation is necessary to understand who these immigrants are, how they were transported across state lines, and if their rights were violated."

The Florida Legislature included $12 million in the current budget to relocate immigrants to other states, The Tallahassee Democrat reported. The flights to Massachusetts were the first time DeSantis has used some of the money allocated for immigrants.

Fried said the migrants are from Venezuela and crossed the border in Texas. The flights to Martha's Vineyard originated in San Antonio, Texas, a fact confirmed by Geoffrey Freeman, director of Martha's Vineyard Airport, who said they carried paperwork showing they were all Venezuelan citizens seeking asylum as refugees.

"The needs on the ground will only be amplified should Gov. DeSantis choose to use taxpayer dollars to traffic more human beings to this community as a political stunt," Fried said. "To use human beings as political pawns as Gov. DeSantis has done is morally reprehensible, meriting an immediate investigation and appropriate action by the Department of Justice on behalf of the impacted migrants."

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Fried said it is unclear how these refugees came to be on planes chartered using Florida tax dollars.

DeSantis confirmed Friday that he sent the migrants to Massachusetts as "part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations."

While he did not give details on the cost of chartering the two planes to fly the 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard, he said the Legislature inclusion of money in the 2022-23 budget to relocate immigrants to other states. DeSantis said he intends to use "every penny" of the $12 million budgeted to relocate migrants. He said there will likely be more flights such as this paid for by Florida.

The Florida Department of Transportation paid Vertol Systems Company $615,000 on Sept. 8 — about a week before the flights — as part of the “relocation program of unauthorized aliens,” The Washington Post reported, citing state records.

DeSantis said he is justified in using Florida tax money to fly migrants from Texas to Massachusetts because he said many people who cross the Texas border end up in Florida. He said he has placed people in Texas to "profile" immigrants who are likely headed to Florida.

"In Florida, we take what is happening at the southern border seriously," he said. "We are not a sanctuary state, and we will gladly facilitate the transport of illegal immigrants to sanctuary jurisdictions. I think what we’re continuing to do is use every tool at our disposal to insulate the state of Florida from all the negative ramifications of his (Biden's) reckless border policies. And, yes, that involves helping with transport.”

DeSantis said, instead of worrying "about a bunch of rich people" scrambling to feed and house undocumented immigrants, "why not actually look at what’s going on” at the border, DeSantis said.“There were more Acela corporate journalists in Martha’s Vineyard today than have ever gone down to the southern border to look at what’s going on."

Fried noted that one immigrant said he was promised "housing and work" if he agreed to be flown to the Massachusetts island.

"However, it is unclear who made this promise or if it will be fulfilled," Fried said. "Regardless of potential shelter and job opportunities, the decision to send 50 migrants to a small community without notice shows a complete disregard for the safety of the migrants and the resources necessary to adequately address their care."

Crist issued a Sunshine Law request for documents related to the two flights that delivered the immigrants to Martha's Vineyard with no advance notice.

“We need to know what the facts are about what happened. I mean, this thing went down and it was strange,” he said.

“Apparently, he (DeSantis) admits to chartering two planes, going over to Texas, taking these migrants to Massachusetts. They really didn’t know where they were going; they thought they were going to Boston with a promise of jobs and help and have them get their papers done, to get their citizenship,” Crist said.

Despite the fact that Martha's Vineyard was unprepared for the arrival of the immigrants, Fried commended the residents for quickly pulling together resources to help them.

“I am thankful the residents of Martha’s Vineyard mustered the empathy our governor clearly lacks, but an investigation is necessary to uncover how this travesty unfolded and how Floridians may be paying for it," she said.

See related stories:

• DeSantis Flies Undocumented Immigrants To Martha's Vineyard
• Martha's Vineyard Migrants Will Shelter At Cape Base: Charlie Baker

On Thursday afternoon, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said the 50 immigrants, including young children, will live temporarily at Joint Base Cape Cod in Buzzards Bay.

"The Commonwealth has many resources for assisting individuals that arrive in Massachusetts with varying immigration statuses and needs and is working with all partners involved to make sure those resources are available to the migrants that arrived last night," Baker said in a news conference.

He said he's activated up to 125 Massachusetts National Guard members to provide assistance with food, clothing and medical needs.

Baker said this incident underscores the need for comprehensive immigration reform.

"What we really need more than anything is for the folks in Washington to get their act together," he said. "The system is busted and it needs to be fixed."

Massachusetts U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, whose district includes Martha's Vineyard, condemned DeSantis' actions.

"I am disgusted by Gov. Ron DeSantis's decision to prioritize cruelty and chaos over human dignity in today's taxpayer-funded stunt," Keating said in a series of tweets. "History does not look kindly on leaders who treat human beings like cargo, loading them up and sending them a thousand miles away without telling them their destination."

At the same time, he said the people of Martha's Vineyard are prepared to care for any migrants who are unceremoniously dropped off by plane.

"The people of Martha's Vineyard, its vibrant immigrant community, and the Commonwealth as a whole are already calling @GovRonDeSantis's bluff and rising to meet the challenge because that's what Americans do — we help those in need," he said.

Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, the executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights in Boston, said his group is representing 39 of the 50 migrants. He, too, is calling for a federal investigation, saying those responsible for flying the migrants to Massachusetts, including officials from Florida and Texas, could face human trafficking and other criminal charges.