New documents raise more questions about Ron DeSantis' migrant flights
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) highly publicized initiative to transport migrants to northern states may have gone beyond the scope of what Florida originally intended, per new records obtained by The Washington Post.
DeSantis notably had two planes full of migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts after reiterating that Florida was not a sanctuary state. The move was heavily criticized — including by some in DeSantis' own state — as a cruel political stunt. The new records from the Post, however, show that DeSantis may have also used a new Florida program to his advantage.
Launched in July, this initiative, known as a "relocation program," was described by the Post as being intended to "relocate out of the state of Florida foreign nationals who are not lawfully present in the United States."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
However, the pair of migrant flights originated from San Antonio, Texas, and the Post reportedly obtained records showing the DeSantis administration paid charter airline company Vertol $615,000 to fly from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. A payment of $950,000 for an additional flight was also reportedly listed, though this flight was later canceled.
These new records are at the heart of a criminal investigation into DeSantis' actions, as well as a civil lawsuit being brought by Florida State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D). Pizzo alleges the relocation program violated state law because the flights originated in Texas, not Florida.
DeSantis, though, has defended the flights, and claimed during a press conference that "most of [the migrants] are intending to come to Florida."
-
6 of the world’s most accessible destinationsThe Week Recommends Experience all of Berlin, Singapore and Sydney
-
How the FCC’s ‘equal time’ rule worksIn the Spotlight The law is at the heart of the Colbert-CBS conflict
-
What is the endgame in the DHS shutdown?Today’s Big Question Democrats want to rein in ICE’s immigration crackdown
-
Witkoff and Kushner tackle Ukraine, Iran in GenevaSpeed Read Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held negotiations aimed at securing a nuclear deal with Iran and an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine
-
Pentagon spokesperson forced out as DHS’s resignsSpeed Read Senior military adviser Col. David Butler was fired by Pete Hegseth and Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin is resigning
-
Judge orders Washington slavery exhibit restoredSpeed Read The Trump administration took down displays about slavery at the President’s House Site in Philadelphia
-
Hyatt chair joins growing list of Epstein files losersSpeed Read Thomas Pritzker stepped down as executive chair of the Hyatt Hotels Corporation over his ties with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
