Florida official says migrants flown to California went willingly, disputes claims of coercion

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Florida official disputes claims of coercion, says migrants flown to California went willingly

The administration of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis asserted on Tuesday that the migrants transported from the U.S. southern border to California on private planes did so willingly, countering allegations made by California officials that the individuals were coerced under false pretenses.

This admission, which came five days after the first flight landed in California’s capital, further escalated tensions between DeSantis and California Governor Gavin Newsom, who have a history of political conflicts.

Two planes carrying asylum-seekers, mostly from Colombia and Venezuela, arrived in Sacramento on Friday and Monday. The migrants were initially picked up in El Paso, Texas, then transported to New Mexico before being flown to Sacramento, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who is investigating potential violations of criminal or civil law.

Alecia Collins, a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, stated that the migrants “indicated they wanted to go to California” through verbal and written consent. She also shared a compilation of video clips showing people signing consent forms and expressing gratitude to officials for their treatment. However, the videos lacked time stamps, and additional information about their origins was not provided.

Bonta expressed his intention to request unedited video footage from Florida and determine whether any of the people seen in the videos were among the migrants he met. Representatives from religious groups assisting the migrants did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the individuals featured in the videos.

This is not the first instance of DeSantis’ administration relocating migrants from Texas to other states. Last fall, Florida flew 49 Venezuelans to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, as a form of protest against federal immigration policies. DeSantis has emphasized his intention to send migrants who might end up in Florida to states with immigrant-friendly policies, such as California.

It remains unclear if Florida was the intended destination for any of the migrants who arrived in California. Even if that were the case, their number would represent only a fraction of the immigrants who annually arrive in Florida.

In early May, DeSantis signed a law allocating $12 million to his migrant-relocation initiative shortly before announcing his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. He has campaigned about the earlier migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard.

Newsom hinted at the possibility of pursuing kidnapping charges against DeSantis in a tweet on Monday. However, such charges would be challenging to prove, particularly since the migrants signed waivers.

Bonta has not explicitly stated whether he is contemplating kidnapping charges. The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office in Texas recommended misdemeanor and felony charges related to “unlawful restraints” in the transport of migrants from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard. The county district attorney will decide whether to pursue these charges and against whom.

Despite the potential charges, Newsom’s office remains critical of DeSantis, characterizing Florida’s claims as “exploitative propaganda” in an attempt to score political points.

Newsom and DeSantis frequently use each other as political foils, presenting their own governing approaches as models for the nation. They have clashed on various issues, including immigration policy, abortion access, LGBTQ+ and civil rights, and cultural matters.

During his campaign, DeSantis has frequently criticized progressive policies in Democratic strongholds like New York and California, attributing Florida’s population growth to people fleeing those states.

DeSantis is currently considered the strongest alternative to former President Donald Trump in the crowded GOP primary, although early polls still show Trump with a significant lead.

Bonta, who met with some of the migrants who arrived on Friday, stated that they informed him they were approached in El Paso by two women who spoke limited Spanish and promised them jobs. The women accompanied the migrants from El Paso to Deming, New Mexico, where two men joined them for the flight to Sacramento. According to Bonta, the same men were on Monday’s flight.

The asylum seekers possess court dates in New York, Utah, and Colorado and carried a document claiming to be a consent and release form designed to protect Florida from liability.

Advocates, including Gabby Trejo, the executive director of Sacramento ACT, a collaboration of religious congregations in the Sacramento area, stated that all the migrants had already been assigned pending court dates by U.S. immigration officials before being approached in Texas with promises of employment. Trejo asserted that they had been deceived and lied to.

The intentions of the newly arrived migrants in Sacramento are still unclear. Advocacy groups reported that four individuals from the first flight on Friday have been picked up by friends or family, while the rest are under the care of local organizations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about coercion allegations

More about coercion allegations

• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis
• California Governor Gavin Newsom
• California Attorney General Rob Bonta
• Florida Division of Emergency Management
• Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts
• U.S. Immigration Policies
• Immigration Coverage by AP