Migrants have already sued the state alleging they were flown to a small island under false pretenses.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) already faces a lawsuit alleging that the state misled dozens of migrants into boarding private jets for Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, enticing them with false promises of jobs and assistance as part of a political stunt aimed at Democrats.
So, naturally, Florida Republicans have approved new legislation to give the state even more authority to move asylum seekers around the country with little oversight.
The legislation gives the Florida Division of Emergency Management authority, and $10 million, to transport migrants to anywhere in the country from anywhere in the country, even if they never set foot in Florida.
The proposed program doesn’t include any parameters on the department’s actions — one sponsor has said the money could be used for “surveillance” and “reconnaissance” — and does away with requirements for competitive bidding, even after the state contracted the company of a major GOP donor and former client of the governor’s public safety czar for the last round of flights. The state paid the firm more than $1.5 million, and has now paid out more than $350,000 in legal fees related to lawsuits over the flights.
Democrats, though powerless to stop it, are not happy. “I know there are members of this committee who do not want to vote in favor of this bill, who do not believe in a $10 million, free check to the governor, with no accountability, no statistics, no data, no back-up, and a political agenda,” state Rep. Kelly Skidmore (D) said during a state House Appropriations Committee Monday, shortly before the panel approved of the bill on party lines.
“I know there are members who don’t want to vote for this bill, and they will, and that is unfortunate and incredibly disappointing,” Skidmore added.
Start sending them to the Alaskan Tundra – maybe they’ll stop coming!
Cut off all their free goodies and they will have no reason to come.
It will cost Florida well over 10 million to house the illegals there. Actually a smart strategy by the Republicans