Florida government says migrants ‘wanted to go to California’ after Newsom threatens kidnapping charges
Julia Johnson
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EXCLUSIVE — Florida‘s government confirmed on Tuesday that it was behind the recent flight of immigrants to Sacramento, California, and responded to Gov. Gavin Newsom‘s (D-CA) threat of kidnapping charges.
“Florida’s voluntary relocation is precisely that — voluntary,” a spokesperson for the Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner. “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 specific NGO, Catholic Charities, is used and funded by the federal government.”
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“From left-leaning mayors in El Paso, Texas, and Denver, Colorado, the relocation of those illegally crossing the United States border is not new. But suddenly, when Florida sends illegal aliens to a sanctuary city, it’s false imprisonment and kidnapping,” the statement continued.
The division also provided the Washington Examiner with a video of the immigrants celebrating and expressing gratitude after arriving in California.
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Last week, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced that he met with over a dozen immigrants that had been flown to the state’s capital. He alleged that no arrangements had been made for them and further indicated that Florida’s government may have orchestrated the flight.
“We are investigating the circumstances by which these individuals were brought to California. We are also evaluating potential criminal or civil action against those who transported or arranged for the transport of these vulnerable immigrants,” he said.
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Newsom later tweeted at Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), calling him a “small, pathetic man” and threatening the governor with kidnapping charges.
Florida previously sent roughly 50 immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts last year. In confirming the flights, a spokesperson for DeSantis said it was a “part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”