(Los Angeles) Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom on Monday threatened to sue his Florida counterpart, Republican Ron DeSantis, for “kidnapping” after two groups of migrants arrived by private jet in the capital. Californian Sacramento.
Candidate for the Republican nomination for the presidential election of 2024, Mr. DeSantis has for several months been leading a policy of moving migrants to Democratic states, as a sign of protest against the migration policy led by Democratic President Joe Biden.
The governor of Florida had notably claimed last September the transfer of 48 migrants by plane from Texas to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, a popular vacation spot for American high society, located in Massachusetts (northeast).
He later signed into law legislation in February allowing his administration to transfer illegal migrants to another state, including if they live outside of Florida.
“Ron DeSantis, pathetic little man,” Gavin Newsom tweeted. “It’s not Martha’s Vineyard here. A kidnapping charge? he added, along with a screenshot of a California state law section regarding kidnappings.
State Attorney General Rob Bonta announced on Saturday the opening of an investigation into the arrival of these migrants, stating that they had papers “supposed to come from the Florida government”.
“We are studying the possibility of initiating criminal or civil legal action against those who transported or organized the transport of these vulnerable migrants,” he added.
The first group of migrants, from Colombia and Venezuela, arrived on Friday, and the second group, mainly from Venezuela, landed on Monday, according to US media.
Solicited by AFP, Ron DeSantis’ team did not respond immediately.
Migrants who arrived in Martha’s Vineyard in September were lured onto the plane by false promises of employment, the newspaper reported, according to a judicial inquiry. Miami Herald.