(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Recent footage released by the Florida Division of Emergency Management showed illegal immigrants signing release forms agreeing to fly to the state of California.
According to the Daily Caller, the state of Florida allowed several illegals to volunteer to fly to Sacramento as part of the “Unauthorized Alien Transport Program.”
“Through verbal and written consent, these volunteers indicated they wanted to go to California. A contractor was present and ensured they made it safely to a 3rd-party NGO,” the Florida DOEM said. “The specific NGO, Catholic Charities, is used and funded by the federal government.”
California Democrat Gov. Gavin Newsom responded by accusing Florida officials of kidnapping, spurring an investigation from District Attorney General Rob Bontana’s office.
.@RonDeSantis you small, pathetic man.
This isn't Martha's Vineyard.
Kidnapping charges?
Read the following. https://t.co/kvuxe8Fb6F pic.twitter.com/KyE1lJiIYo
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) June 5, 2023
The video footage showed the illegals signing the release forms and saying “Thank God!” when they touched down in California. They also said that Florida officials treated them “super well.”
“From left-leaning mayors in El Paso, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, the relocation of those illegally crossing the United States border is not new,” Florida DOEM said. “But suddenly, when Florida sends illegal aliens to a sanctuary city, it’s false imprisonment and kidnapping.”
Newsom previously touted his state’s sanctuary status when the Trump administration announced a planned immigration sweep through California’s northern region—a fact that many Twitter users resurfaced.
Let me be clear, @realDonaldTrump: California is a sanctuary state. We believe in the power of diversity. We have defied and resisted the xenophobic, hateful policies of your administration at every turn. We will do it again.https://t.co/HjaXaABzzC
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) January 19, 2018
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis created the Alien Transport Program in February, and announced that he planned to “spend every penny” of the program’s $10 million budget to transport illegal aliens out of his state.
“And that way they’re able to go and these sanctuary cities can put their money where their mouth is,” DeSantis explained. “They can provide resources. They can do all of that.”
DeSantis pulled a similar stunt in September of last year, sending a group of 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard—home of many far-left political figures, actors and global elites.
Activists also attempted to sue the Florida governor then, calling the feat a “fraudulent and discriminatory scheme.”
