Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has faced widespread condemnation after flying around 50 Venezuelan migrants to the wealthy liberal island of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, without warning. The move, described by President Joe Biden as 'un-American' and 'reckless', has been labelled a political stunt by immigration activists and Democratic politicians.
DeSantis, a potential Republican presidential candidate in 2024, argued that the relocation highlighted the Biden administration's failure to secure the US-Mexico border. He claimed that 'every community in America should be sharing in the burdens' of immigration. However, critics have questioned the legality of the operation, with some suggesting it may amount to human trafficking.
The leader of anti-trafficking charity Polaris, Catherine Chen, issued a statement noting that migrants reported being deceived about their destination. 'If migrants were defrauded, and if this fraud was intended as a vehicle for anyone’s material gain, including that of an elected official, then there is a case for investigating it as trafficking,' she said.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, has ordered up to 125 National Guard members to help move the migrants to more secure accommodation at a military base in Cape Cod. The US attorney for Massachusetts, Rachael Rollins, has said she plans to speak with the Justice Department about the matter, while Florida Democratic cabinet member Nikki Fried has called for a federal investigation.
DeSantis's action follows similar moves by Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who sent buses of migrants to the Washington DC residence of Vice-President Kamala Harris. Both governors, along with Arizona's Doug Ducey, have sent thousands of migrants to predominantly Democratic-run 'sanctuary' states and cities.
