Florida picks vendors for migrant transportation program

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida selected three vendors to help execute the state’s migrant transportation program, which reached national headlines after Gov. Ron DeSantis sent about 50 immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

DeSantis signed Wednesday a strong anti-illegal immigration bill, which includes $12 million for the “Unauthorized Alien Transport Program.”

Earlier this year, the governor signed a bill into law that continued, clarified and allocated another $10 million to the program.

“I am glad to have signed legislation to continue the program of transporting illegal aliens to sanctuary jurisdictions. I thank the legislature for maintaining this valuable tool,” DeSantis said on social media in February.

The communications director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, Alecia Collins, said the state selected ARS Global Emergency Management, GardaWorld Federal Services, and Vertol.

“In order to best implement the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program, FDEM has selected multiple vendors based on their capabilities to carry out the program as outlined in statute,” Collins said.

Details on the specific role of the vendors, the costs, and the cities the migrants would be relocated to were not made available. Collins said the division is still in the process of agreeing to contract terms.

The request for proposals said the vendors would be “required to provide ground and air transportation and other related services… to assist in the voluntary relocation of Inspected Unauthorized Aliens that have agreed to be relocated from Florida, or another state, to a location within the United States.”

Services may include research, providing informed voluntary consent to candidates before relocation, providing interpretation and translation services, records, obtaining hygiene products, providing meals, and arranging for social services at the destination.

Republicans said the program offers illegal immigrants transportation from one state to “sanctuary jurisdictions.” Democrats said the bill allows the governor to “misuse” taxpayer dollars.

“Florida is using all tools available to protect our citizens from Biden’s open border policies,” he said.

The legislation’s sponsor, Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, said the new law applies to migrants who have already had an encounter with either DHS or ICE and have been given documentation saying that they are released but not legally entitled to be in the U.S.

The most recent illegal immigration legislation DeSantis signed Wednesday mandated E-Verify for certain businesses and increased penalties for human smuggling.

DeSantis said the Biden administration recently claimed that when it comes to the illegal immigration, “you’ve seen it come down by more than 90%.”

“That is a lie, that is something that they’re trying to feed you and hope their buddies in corporate media will run with, but that is factually untrue and demonstrably untrue,” DeSantis said.

Rep. Susan L. Valdés, D-Tampa, who is the Democrats’ only Cuban-American legislator, said during session the bill is “cruel” and “without humanity.”