In a political stunt that closely resembles human trafficking, Florida governor, Ron DeSantis, flew two planes filled with Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard; the migrants believed they were headed to Boston.
DeSantis’ communications director, Taryn Fenske, told Fox News Digital that the planes were part of the state’s relocation program to “transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”
The Florida Legislature appropriated $12 million to transport “illegal immigrants” from the state consistent with federal law, Fenske said.
“States like Massachusetts, New York, and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as ‘sanctuary states’ and support for the Biden Administration’s open border policies,” Fenske said.
A number of migrants told NPR their flight originated in San Antonio, and that they were being transported to Boston.
NPR confirmed that a plane originated in San Antonio, made a stop in Florida and then another stop in South Carolina before flying on to Martha’s Vineyard. But apart from that layover, the migrants NPR interviewed had not spent time in Florida.
“We have the governor of Florida … hatching a secret plot to send immigrant families like cattle on an airplane,” said state Sen. Dylan Fernandes, who represents Martha’s Vineyard. “Ship them women and children to a place they weren’t told where they were going and never alerted local officials and people on the ground here that they were coming. It is an incredibly inhumane and depraved thing to do.”
Martha’s Vineyard has a reputation as a destination for the progressive elite, and DeSantis has been regularly bringing up the island enclave at his press conferences. Republican governors in Texas and Arizona have also been transporting migrants from the border to northern cities at taxpayer expense.
Democrats and immigrant advocates say those governors are essentially using migrants as political pawns. But the governors say are simply calling attention to a very real problem.
Local churches and other charitable organizations have set up beds and shelter for the newly arrived migrants.
