Treasury Department Reportedly Investigating DeSantis’ Migrant Flights to Martha’s Vineyard
TALLAHASSEE (FLV) – The Treasury Department is reportedly examining Gov. Ron DeSantis’ migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard and if they “improperly used money connected to Covid-19 aid to facilitate the flights.”
The DeSantis Administration sent two planes as “part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.” The office said the funds were pulled from the $12 million the Florida legislature provided to help transport illegal immigrants from the state.
“The agency’s inspector general’s office confirmed to several members of Massachusetts’s Democratic congressional delegation that it planned ‘to get this work underway as soon as possible’ to probe Florida’s spending as part of ongoing audits into how states have used the billions in sent to them as part of the American Rescue Plan, according to a letter provided by Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey’s office.”
POLITICO
Deputy Inspector General Richard K. Delmar told lawmakers that the agency would “review the allowability” of COVID aid to states in reference to immigration, along with confirming whether interest on the funds was used for the migrant flights.
POLITICO acknowledged that Florida did not directly use federal COVID funds to transport the migrants, saying Florida legislators approved the $12 million in interest earned off COVID aid be used to pay for the transport of “unauthorized aliens from this state.”
The Treasury letter marks the first time federal authorities have acknowledged they’re looking into the transports.
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.
Following the migrant flights, DeSantis received multiple standing ovations during rallies in Kansas and Wisconsin after mentioning the border crisis finally getting wide media attention due to his actions at Martha’s Vineyard.
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.
