California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) is calling on the Department of Justice to investigate the Florida program responsible for transporting migrants to Sacramento. In a July 6 letter, Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta (D) urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to open criminal and civil investigations into Florida’s “unauthorized alien transport program” overseen by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).
In June, DeSantis took credit for sending 36 migrants from Texas to Sacramento, calling it a “voluntary relocation” program. But according to the Los Angeles Times, some of the migrants sent to California denied claims that their trip was voluntary. They said they were falsely promised jobs, shelter and attorneys.
“It is unconscionable to use people as political props by persuading them to travel to another state based on false or deceptive representations. We urge USDOJ to investigate potential violations of federal law by those involved in this scheme,” Newsom’s letter stated.
Newsom had previously publicly urged the DOJ to investigate DeSantis’ migrant flights, but the letter represents one of the most substantial moves yet by the Democratic governor to press federal officials.
The letter comes one month after two groups of migrants arrived by plane to Sacramento. That sparked multiple California Department of Justice investigations and a veiled threat from Newsom that DeSantis could face kidnapping charges.
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In June, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) sent more than 100 migrants to Los Angeles. Abbott was not mentioned in the Democrats’ letter, even though he has bused more than 20,000 people across the country. DeSantis, in comparison, has transported about 100 migrants total to Massachusetts and California.
