Thread: Florida lawmakers give DeSantis authority to relocate migrants anywhere in U.S

Florida lawmakers give DeSantis authority to relocate migrants anywhere in U.S




Story by By Joseph Ax • 1h ago

February 10, 2023

By Joseph Ax




FILE PHOTO: Republican Governor DeSantis holds 2022 U.S. midterm elections night party in Tampa, Florida© Thomson Reuters


(Reuters) - Florida's legislature on Friday voted to give Governor Ron DeSantis the power to relocate migrants anywhere in the United States, expanding a controversial initiative the Republican used last year to fly migrants from Texas to Massachusetts.

The legislation passed the Florida House of Representatives along party lines. The bill, which has already been approved by the Republican-majority state Senate on Wednesday, now heads to DeSantis' desk for his signature.

State lawmakers are holding a special session to advance several bills that are priorities for DeSantis, who has built a national profile by stoking anger over cultural issues in advance of a widely expected campaign for president next year.

Last year, DeSantis used taxpayer money to fly dozens of South American migrants from Texas to the wealthy enclave of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, saying he was responding to the federal government's failed immigration policies.


Related video: Florida GOP in Senate advances migrant flight bill (CBS Miami)

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The move – decried as a political stunt by Democrats and advocates for immigrants – raised legal questions because none of the migrants had been in Florida. Democratic state Senator Jason Pizzo has sued DeSantis as a private citizen, claiming the governor misused taxpayer money.

The new bill would explicitly allow DeSantis to transport migrants from anywhere in the country. It also says money spent on flights in the past is "deemed approved," which could help defend the governor against claims of misuse.

Democrats, citing allegations that some of the migrants were misled, said the program uses vulnerable people as political props.

"This bill is indefensible," Representative Christopher Benjamin said on the state House floor on Friday.

"They are human beings, not chess pieces. Stop playing games with people's lives."

Republicans said the bill will help migrants who wish to travel to so-called sanctuary cities voluntarily.

"They're going to get more benefits in a sanctuary state or city than they would here, and we're simply providing them with a free ticket," Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin said.

(Reporting by Joseph Ax; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Jonathan Oatis)


https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/fl...5bf8aa674be9ef

Fly them all to the swamp in Washington D.C. where they MUST be detained until their court cases are heard.

They make up these laws that destroy our lives and then do not enforce them. Let them have 35 million descend on D.C.

Bus them from the border directly to Washinton D.C. and disrupt the lives of the rotten swamp, they can live with them all and open their doors and house and feed them and deal with the crime. See how they like it.

When they were bussed to Kamala's home she did not come out, hug them, feed them, or let them in HER gated community! They quickly got rid of them and dumped them on us!

Just like Martha's Vineyard. Martha's Vineyard has PLENTY of hotels, B&Bs, and resorts to put them up in and pay for it out of their wallets. They do not want this in their backyard! Well, neither do we, send them the hell back home and stop letting them in!

Stop dumping them all across America. We do not want ANY of them in our states and we do not want to pay for them.

They can be "human beings" back home in their country where they belong!

This is all BS ship every one the hell back home & Get Trump Back & fast