Using migrants as political pawns is despicable

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On September 14, 2022 two chartered jet planes carrying 48 migrants landed on Martha’s Vineyard. An article by Allie Griffin at the New York Post on September 15, 2022 titled Ron DeSantis ships two planes of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard – report initially stated:

 

“Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent two full planes of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday – making good on his promise to ship off illegal immigrants to progressive states. The migrants got off the planes from Florida and could be seen on the tarmac at Martha’s Vineyard Airport on the small Massachusetts island, Fox Digital News reported. A spokesman for the Republican governor confirmed in a statement to the outlet that the flights were ‘part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.’ “

 

But the story and his credibility quickly began to fall apart. An article by Kelsey Vlamis at Business Insider also on September 15, 2022 is titled The migrants Gov. Ron DeSantis flew to Martha’s Vineyard on taxpayer dollars were relocated from Texas, not Florida.

 

And an article by Steve Contorno at CNN on September 16, 2022 titled DeSantis vows Florida will transport more migrants from border to other states said:

 

“Speaking at a news conference in Daytona Beach, DeSantis defended using taxpayer dollars to send 50 migrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard because he said many people who cross the border end up in Florida. He said people working for Florida are in Texas and they ‘profile’ individuals who are likely headed to Florida.”

 

An article by Jessica Schladebeck at the New York Daily News on September 17, 2022 titled Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis faces questions, scrutiny over migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard: ‘Crimes against humanity’ explained:

 

“Notably, while the money was earmarked ‘to facilitate the transport of unauthorized aliens from this state,’ DeSantis’ stunt involved people who are not unauthorized and who were not located in Florida.”

 

Then came even more fallout. An article by Chloe Folmar at The Hill on September 19, 2022 is titled Texas sheriff opens probe into DeSantis’s migrant flight to Martha’s Vineyard. And another article by Nicole Gaudiano and Kimberly Leonard at Business Insider on September 20, 2022 is titled The migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard have filed a federal lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, alleging a ‘premeditated, fraudulent, and illegal scheme,’ after he chartered planes to move them.

 

The Florida Governor’s behavior can best be summed up with famous catch phrase by the cartoon character, Daffy Duck: “You’re despicable.”

 

The image of a chess pawn came from Wikimedia Commons.