Already in September 2022, colleague Loïc Tassé And Me we were interested in the case of these migrants moved to Martha’s Vineyard by the governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis.
Not only does he seem to have done it again, this time in California, but charges could well be filed against him.
That governors like those of Texas and California want to make brilliant moves to make Washington aware of the problem of immigration is legitimate, but it must be done while respecting the laws and human life.
A disgusting scheme
As was the case for Martha’s Vineyard, the city of Sacramento in California has just received migrants, mainly Colombians and Venezuelans. They arrived in two separate groups, but each time transported by the same private plane.
If the California authorities cannot confirm it for the moment, the State of Florida and a private company (Vertol Systems Company) would be involved in the movements of these migrants.
Migrants who have spoken out say they do not know who organized the flights. Only the papers in their possession indicate that Florida was involved.
The strongest reaction came from California Governor Gavin Newsom. The one to whom we also lend presidential ambitions mentioned the name of DeSantis in a tweet, threatening him with legal reprisals.
What threat can Newsom pose? It is illegal to trick migrants by lying to them or holding out jobs. This is what Vertol employees would have done to encourage migrants to go to California. Newsom was quick to bring up kidnapping charges.
When you have crossed a good part of the continent and put your life and those of your loved ones at stake, you become an easy target for vile sellers of empty promises or political crap in search of attention.
The duped migrants claim to know very little about the real intentions of those who approached them, pointing out in passing that they could have been people representing the government.
In Texas, a sheriff lays criminal charges
The actions of Vertol and the Florida authorities could well come back to haunt them if we trust a news from Texas. The Bexar County Sheriff recommends criminal charges in the Martha’s Vineyard displaced migrant case.
It is now up to the state attorney general to determine whether we will go ahead, but we already guess that a favorable opinion would have a direct impact on the decision of the governor of California to carry out his threat.
Either way, I doubt these threats are enough to rein in DeSantis and his ilk as the US presidential cycle is just beginning. We will continue to campaign on the backs of the most vulnerable.