California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) accused Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) of “kidnapping” 16 immigrants who recently flew by plane from New Mexico to Sacramento, California, allegedly without preparation for their arrival.
According to the Los Angeles Times, “The 16 migrants from Venezuela and Colombia were initially transported by bus from El Paso to New Mexico, where they boarded the flight to Sacramento, officials said. They were dropped off at the doorstep of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sacramento on Friday.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta recently released a statement accusing Florida’s government of being behind the transfer of the immigrants who had initially crossed the southern border in Texas.
“This is Gov. DeSantis, this is his baby, this is his project, his fingerprints are all over it,” Bonta said. “The governor signed it, the Legislature approved to fund it in the budget, and they hired Vertol Systems Co., a vendor, to carry out the work.”
“It’s DeSantis being exactly who he is and advertising to the world that he is petty, little … and full of political stunts that hurt, harm, and abuse and exploit people to try and get cheap political points. It’s wrong,” Bonta added.
Newsom said he and Bonta met with over 12 of the immigrants.
The California governor said his office and the California Department of Justice were working “to investigate the circumstances around who paid for the group’s travel and whether the individuals orchestrating the trip misled anyone with false promises or have violated any criminal laws, including kidnapping.”
Florida, like California, has relocated immigrants sent to the state. In 2022, DeSantis sent a planeload of immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, the “haven” where prominent Democratic politicians live, including former President Barack Obama.
The island, unable to shelter the immigrants despite holding political signs welcoming them into the U.S., relocated them to a military base.
Newsom, who spends much of his time on social media mocking conservative governors, particularly DeSantis, recently accused the Florida governor of kidnapping, despite having no evidence DeSantis was involved.
.@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man.
This isn't Martha's Vineyard.
Kidnapping charges?
Read the following. https://t.co/kvuxe8Fb6F pic.twitter.com/KyE1lJiIYo
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 5, 2023
Newsom, who left California for a vacation in Mexico during blizzards in early 2023, did not address the migrant issue or his state’s welfare policies toward illegal migrants.
The Los Angeles Times pointed out that California authorities have not released documents proving that Florida was involved, considering that the migrants never entered the Sunshine State.
