NEW YORK — Florida officials confirmed on Tuesday that they organized two flights carrying migrants from Texas to California in recent days.
It's the latest example of a controversial strategy under Gov. Ron DeSantis, who says he wants to spotlight what he calls the failures of southern border policies -- as migrant advocates say he is exploiting vulnerable people for political ends.
The people were originally approached outside a migrant center in El Paso, Texas, by a group purporting to be part of an organization that could help them relocate, Sacramento ACT spokesperson Cecilia Flores said. The migrants said they did not know they were getting on a plane to California, according to Flores. After both flights, the groups were dropped off outside the Diocese of Sacramento and were told by the people transporting them that they’d return -- but instead these people left and never came back.
FDEM shared a video with ABC News that they claim shows some of the migrants signing paperwork and volunteering to get on a flight.In one part of the video a man is seen saying, in Spanish, “We made it to California. Thank God. Very thankful to God.” In a social media post on Monday, Newsom called DeSantis a"small, pathetic man," adding,"This isn't Martha's Vineyard" alongside a photo of the state statute that explains kidnapping charges.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
California investigating whether migrant flight came from FloridaState Attorney General Rob Bonta said that the migrants who were dropped off in Sacramento without any prior arrangements 'were in possession of documentation purporting to be from the government of the State of Florida.'
Read more »
What to know about latest migrant charter flight dispute between California, FloridaCalifornia's AG said Florida is responsible for a private flight that took migrants from El Paso to Sacramento in the latest immigration policy ploy.
Read more »
Florida officials confirm state behind migrant flights to California as Newsom threatens 'kidnapping charges'Florida officials confirmed to Fox News on Tuesday that migrant flights have been flown by the state to California -- adding that the transports were voluntary.
Read more »
Florida Official Says State Was Behind Migrant Flights To California — UpdateUPDATE: An official with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration said that the state was behind the movement of migrants from Texas to California, actions that Governor Gavin Newsom lik…
Read more »
Florida arranged migrant flights to California, where officials are considering legal actionFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis released a statement touting his state's record in assisting Texas immigration authorities a day after Texas law enforcement officials recommended criminal charges over migrant flights arranged by the governor.
Read more »