Federal Watchdog Scrutinizes Florida’s Use of Relief Funds in Transporting Migrants

WASHINGTON — The Treasury Division’s inspector normal is investigating whether or not Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida misused pandemic reduction cash when he orchestrated the transport of two planeloads of Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Winery final month.

The inquiry got here in response to a request from congressional Democrats, who accused Mr. DeSantis, a Republican, of violating federal regulation through the use of cash the state had been given to fight the influence of the pandemic for what they described as an “inhumane program to relocate newly arrived immigrants out of Florida.” The flights to Martha’s Winery, an island off the coast of Massachusetts, originated in Texas however have been paid for by Florida.

“For the sake of the migrants who have been lured onto constitution planes beneath false pretenses, and for the commendable Commonwealth residents who rallied collectively to supply help, I hope that this investigation sheds mild on whether or not Governor DeSantis misused funds that have been supposed for Covid reduction for Floridians,” stated Senator Edward J. Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, who was among the many lawmakers who requested the investigation.

About 50 migrants arrived on Martha’s Winery final month on the Florida-funded flights, escalating a tactic by which Republican-led states, together with Texas, have shipped busloads of migrants to liberal enclaves similar to Washington and New York to protest the rise in unlawful immigration beneath President Biden.

It isn’t unlawful for states to pay for the journey of immigrants who’ve been launched from federal custody. The maneuver by Mr. DeSantis raised questions in regards to the funds that Florida was utilizing, although Treasury steerage suggests the state could also be on agency authorized footing.

Watchdogs throughout the federal authorities have been monitoring the usage of stimulus funds to root out instances of fraud and improper spending. Regardless of the Biden administration’s efforts to encourage states to make use of help cash in methods which can be in keeping with its financial agenda, many used the funds to subsidize tax cuts or different tasks unrelated to the pandemic.

Inspectors normal and different federal investigators have been scrambling to maintain observe of the $5 trillion in help that has been deployed to prop up the financial system for the reason that pandemic emerged in 2020. Billions of {dollars} have been stolen or misused, and states and cities have discovered methods to work round restrictions that have been purported to be embedded within the regulation.

The Florida legislature this yr put aside $12 million for a state program to move undocumented immigrants to so-called sanctuary locations. This system was funded with curiosity generated from the $8.8 billion in help that the state had been given by way of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan of 2021.

In a letter to the lawmakers, Richard Okay. Delmar, the Treasury deputy inspector normal, confirmed that his workplace would look into how the cash had been deployed and stated he hoped to shortly begin work on the matter.

A spokeswoman for Mr. DeSantis stated that the state’s Workplace of Coverage and Finances had already been in contact with Treasury’s inspector normal to clarify that utilizing curiosity from the funds to move unlawful immigrants voluntarily to sanctuary jurisdictions was permissible beneath the Treasury Division’s steerage.

“Opinions by Treasury are typical,” stated Taryn Fenske, communications director for Mr. DeSantis.

Regardless of the inquiry, it seems that Florida’s use of the funds could also be allowed beneath Treasury pointers.

The Treasury Division created clear guidelines for the way states and cities might use their $350 billion in stimulus funds. Nevertheless, state and native governments got broad discretion relating to how the curiosity generated from that cash might be deployed. Based on the Treasury Division’s steerage, “recipients can place funds in interest-bearing accounts, don’t have to remit curiosity to Treasury, and usually are not restricted to utilizing that curiosity for eligible makes use of” beneath the pandemic grant program.

When Mr. DeSantis first proposed relocating immigrants final yr, his workplace famous that the steerage gave him the leeway to make use of curiosity on the pandemic help to fund this system.

Following the relocation of the migrants, President Biden accused Mr. DeSantis of utilizing human beings as political props. Nevertheless, the White Home stated they didn’t focus on the matter final week when Mr. Biden visited Florida to evaluate the harm from Hurricane Ian.