Charlie Crist Dodges Specifics on How to Handle Border Crisis: ‘It Looks Like What Ron Hasn’t Done’

FORT MYERS (FLV) – Democrat nominee for governor Charlie Crist did not provide specific details on how to handle illegal immigration after several reporters pressed him about the issue throughout the week.

More than two million migrants crossed the U.S. southern border as of August, making it an all-time high.

Crist deflected when Florida’s Voice asked at a campaign event in Fort Myers Tuesday what he thought of the president’s border policies and the influx of migrants.

The candidate said the situation needs to be handed in a “humane way,” but when asked to elaborate on how, Crist pointed to do what “Ron hasn’t done.”

LYDIA NUSBAUM: “With a record breaking two million people coming through the border, what do you think of the President’s border policies?”

CHARLIE CRIST: “It’s important to have a secure border. I mean, everybody agrees to that. We just have to do it in a humane way.”

LYDIA NUSBAUM: “What does that look like?”

CHARLIE CRIST: “It looks like what Ron hasn’t done.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis flew 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in response to the inflow of people coming through the southern border. He said the group was sent to “sanctuary jurisdictions” where more benefits for illegal immigrants are provided because Florida is not a “sanctuary state.”

Florida Democrats, including Crist, have harshly criticized the governor for flying the migrants to Martha’s Vineyard.

“This stunt that he pulled last week is horrifying,” Crist said Tuesday. “That he willing to use fellow human beings as pawns in his political game, is disturbing.”

However, Crist did not provide specifics when asked by several reporters how he would handle illegal immigration Friday during a press conference.

GLENNA MILBERG: “Because they come to Florida, the governor has taken this opportunity, you know, to your point, to make a big deal out of taking them out of Florida…. What is the appropriate measure? For that process, especially now when there are record numbers of people crossing the border?”

CHARLIE CRIST: “Well do it in a humane fashion, Glenna. I mean, this is inappropriate. This is wrong. And if the governor isn’t smarter than this, we have a we have a real problem in the governor’s mansion…(cont.)”

GLENNA MILBERG: “But as a follow up, so what would your suggestion to changes be? What would be the more humane and appropriate process?”

CHARLIE CRIST: “Well, it would be not to lie to people to lure them on an airplane to a place where they don’t even know where they’re going for a reason.”

After Crist was pressed several times Friday about his a specific plan, Crist at the end said he would have “kept them in Florida and treated them humanely.”

“I would have kept them in Florida and treated them humanely and given them comfort and make sure they were fed and nourished and treated like human beings,” Crist said Friday. “I would do the opposite of what he’s done.”

In a 2010, Crist said he supports a “clear path for people to be able to obtain citizenship” in order to save the Social Security.

“We have, what, 12 to 14 million illegals, they estimate in America today,” Crist said. “A lot of people. In essence, an underground economy if you will.”

He continued to say “I’m taking out the ideological approach of, you know, throw everybody out of the country, that might have appeased a certain segment of my former party.”

Crist supported the American Dream and Promise Act of 2021 to allow the 2.3 million illegal immigrants called “Dreamers” on a path to citizenship. House Democrats reportedly approved the legislation along with nine Republicans.

The Florida legislature appropriated $12 million to transport illegal immigrants out of Florida. With regards to the Martha’s Vineyard situation, the DeSantis Administration said the migrants voluntarily boarded the planes and signed releases outlining the trip to Massachusetts.

DeSantis has been vocal against President Biden’s border policies that he said has led to increased foot traffic and fentanyl.

“And we want to have Biden reinstitute policies like “Remain in Mexico” and making sure that people aren’t overwhelming,” DeSantis said. “If you believe in open borders, then this the sanctuary jurisdictions that should have to bear the brunt of the open borders, so that’s what we’re doing.”