DeSantis: Florida will keep relocating migrants with state funds

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis defended flying migrant households to Martha’s Winery this week and stated he plans to spend tens of millions that Florida has budgeted to proceed the controversial apply.

Driving the information: “These are only the start efforts,” DeSantis stated, per CNN. “We’ve bought an infrastructure in place now. There’s going to be much more that’s occurring.”

• Florida has put aside $12 million to relocate migrants from the state. DeSantis stated Friday he would use “each penny” of the cash “to guard Florida.” The cash coated the price of buses and can cowl “doubtless extra” flights, DeSantis stated, per CNN.

Catch up quick: Earlier this week, DeSantis stated he used taxpayer {dollars} to arrange flights from Texas for 50 Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Winery, the rich enclave about 90 miles exterior of Boston.

• A few of the households stated they have been promised housing and different alternatives in the event that they agreed to take the flight. Many additionally stated they weren’t informed the place they have been heading. DeSantis disputed that declare Friday, saying the households signed a waiver to take part.
• “It’s apparent that’s the place they have been going,” DeSantis stated. He added: “It’s all voluntary.”
• Volunteers and Massachusetts officers scrambled to assist the households, who will now be housed at Joint Base Cape Cod. The state additionally plans to activate as many as 125 Nationwide Guard members to assist deal with the asylum seekers’ wants.

The massive image: DeSantis joins Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) within the controversial apply that’s an obvious response to President Biden’s immigration insurance policies.

• DeSantis has stated he’s sending the migrants to “sanctuary” jurisdictions, alluding to an immigrant-friendly designation that many Democratic leaning cities and states adopted throughout former President Trump’s tenure.
• Abbott has bused greater than 10,000 migrants to Washington D.C., New York and Chicago because the spring, Reuters studies.
• Biden, Democratic leaders and immigration advocates have sharply criticized the apply as an inhumane political stunt that has used the households as pawns. The White Home is discussing “litigation choices” to halt the relocations, Axios’ Stef W. Kight studies.