Democrats Who Grill DeSantis for Flying Out Illegal Immigrants Supported Budget to Pay for it
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – Florida Democrats provided scathing remarks to Gov. Ron DeSantis after the administration flew two planes of illegal migrants from Florida to Martha’s Vineyard, even though most Democrats approved the budget that allotted the money for the transport.
“Reminder: As public servants and community members we make choices. We have a choice to treat immigrants as “other” and political pawns, or we can treat one another with dignity, love and respect. Y’all know what choice I’ll always make,” said Democrat state Rep. Anna Eskamani.
Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book called it a “puzzling decision.”
“Ron DeSantis’ puzzling decision to spend money from our state budget to send migrants to Martha’s Vineyard is lacking in compassion and it may even violate the law,” Book said. “As Florida’s Senate Democratic Leader, I am going to work to work to find answers.”
Florida lawmakers approved $12 million to implement a program “to facilitate the transport of unauthorized aliens from this state consistent with federal law.”
“No compassion whatsoever. Just depravity from an authoritarian governor seeking to score cheap political points with ultra MAGAs who think traumatizing vulnerable people and children is some kind of game,” said Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith on Twitter.
Florida’s Voice asked Rep. Anna Eskamani, Sen. Lauren Book, Rep. Angie Nixon, and Rep. Carlos Guillermo Smith Friday morning why they voted in support of the budget. None of them responded to a request for a comment.
“The budget is complex. And we don’t want to risk even more harm to our communities because y’all are vindictive so we vote in favor of the the good aspects of it. Don’t get on here with your clown behavior. What y’all did was cruel and inhumane. I hope your boss gets locked up!” Nixon said on Twitter.
As DeSantis thanked lawmakers for the $12 million, he noted the support from Democrats.
“However, the DeSantis Administration and campaign pointed out how those Democrats also voted in support of the budget that funded the migrant’s location,” DeSantis said. “So we got the $12 million for the legislature thanks to these guys. And honestly, I have to say in a bipartisan way, almost every Democrat voted for our $12 million for relocation. They’re complaining now but they all voted for it.”
DeSantis said the two flights are “just the beginning,” announcing he would use all of the allotted money to continue transporting them to sanctuary cities. The flights are in response to Biden’s handling of the U.S. southern border where tens of thousands of migrants are crossing every month.
“What’s not humane is he’s given a false promise the borders are open, luring people to come here for political purposes and then basically cutting these people loose and leave them high and dry,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis expressed concern for the pressures and problems border towns face with the influx of migrants.
“And you saw that in stark relief, when one of the wealthiest enclaves in America, indeed the world, said they didn’t have the resources to deal with 50 People,” DeSantis said. “Well how do you think some of these border towns feel? How do you think some of the people in Florida have felt that have seen the drugs are seeing criminal activity?”
