California Gov. Gavin Newsom wants DeSantis and Abbott investigated for kidnapping
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is petitioning the Justice Department to consider whether moving migrants to other states violates federal laws such as kidnapping, Fox News reports.
In a letter addressed to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Newsom pondered whether Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) illegally relocated migrants to sanctuary cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, as well as Martha's Vineyard, in recent months.
Some of the people who were recently moved to Martha's Vineyard "alleged that a recruiter induced them to accept the offer of travel based on false representations that they would be transported to Boston and would receive expedited access to work authorization." Newsom wrote. "I urge U.S. DOJ to investigate whether the alleged fraudulent inducement would support charges of kidnapping under relevant state laws."
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.
DeSantis sent migrants to Massachusetts on Wednesday after promising to relocate them to a "sanctuary destination," sparking a wave of criticism for what some viewed as a "heartless" political ploy. His communication director Taryn Fenske told Fox News that designated sanctuary states "will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration."
DeSantis's move followed Abbott's decision to relocate migrants who had crossed the southern border of Texas. Abbott's administration has spent up to $15 million on buses for migrants to travel to Chicago and Washington, D.C.
-
‘My donation felt like a rejection of the day’s politics’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
Trump wants a weaker dollar but economists aren’t so sureTalking Points A weaker dollar can make imports more expensive but also boost gold
-
Political cartoons for February 3Cartoons Tuesday’s political cartoons include empty seats, the worst of the worst of bunnies, and more
-
Trump sues IRS for $10B over tax record leaksSpeed Read The president is claiming ‘reputational and financial harm’ from leaks of his tax information between 2018 and 2020
-
Trump, Senate Democrats reach DHS funding dealSpeed Read The deal will fund most of the government through September and the Department of Homeland Security for two weeks
-
Fed holds rates steady, bucking Trump pressureSpeed Read The Federal Reserve voted to keep its benchmark interest rate unchanged
-
Judge slams ICE violations amid growing backlashSpeed Read ‘ICE is not a law unto itself,’ said a federal judge after the agency violated at least 96 court orders
-
Businesses are caught in the middle of ICE activitiesIn the Spotlight Many companies are being forced to choose a side in the ICE debate
-
Rep. Ilhan Omar attacked with unknown liquidSpeed Read This ‘small agitator isn’t going to intimidate me from doing my work’
-
Democrats pledge Noem impeachment if not firedSpeed Read Trump is publicly defending the Homeland Security secretary
-
‘Being a “hot” country does not make you a good country’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
