Regarding migrant flights, California Governor Newsom accuses Ron DeSantis of abduction

Gavin Newsom, the governor of California, seemed to threaten Ron DeSantis, the governor of Florida, with abduction charges on Monday as another group of migrants landed by private aircraft in Sacramento, the state capital.

The clash follows DeSantis’ strategy of flying immigrants to states with Democratic governors in protest of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. DeSantis is a rising Republican star and prospective presidential contender in 2024.

Nearly 50 migrants were flown from Texas to the affluent vacation island of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts in September thanks to arrangements made and financial support from DeSantis.

Despite Florida authorities’ silence over the two recent flights to Sacramento, officials in California said that some of the migrants were in possession of papers “purporting to be from the government of the State of Florida.”

On Monday, Newsom tweeted, “@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man.”

“Martha’s Vineyard is not here. Kidnapping charges? he wrote, attaching a photocopy of California’s kidnapping statutes.

More than a dozen migrants, originating from Colombia and Venezuela, landed in Sacramento in the first planeload on Friday.

They were brought to New Mexico before boarding an aircraft after crossing the Texas-U.S. border.

Attorney General of California Rob Bonta said that his office was “evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants.”

In a statement, he stated that state-sanctioned abduction “is not a public policy choice, it is immoral and disgusting.”

PICO California, a faith-based organisation assisting the migrants, said the group was solicited by individuals offering them work while being transported to California.

The New York Times reported that a second planeload of around 20 migrants, mostly from Venezuela, landed in Sacramento on Monday.

The newspaper was informed by Wilkendri Rodriguez, 23, that four persons had contacted him in El Paso, Texas, and asked if he wanted to go to California.

I’m not sure why they decided to plan these excursions, he remarked. “I’m not sure whether it’s political or if it’s connected to the administration. They gave us no information.

Vertol Systems and the state of Florida looked to have been engaged in both operations, a California Department of Justice official told US media.

An AFP request for comment on the flights was not immediately met by a response from DeSantis’ office.

Separately, a Texas sheriff looking into the migrant flights from San Antonio to Martha’s Vineyard in September suggested filing criminal charges.

According to the Miami Herald, a criminal investigation revealed that the migrants were enticed onboard planes with false claims of employment and opportunities waiting for them there.