DeSantis breaks his silence about California migrant flights

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, during a surprise Wednesday visit to Arizona’s southern border, defended his administration’s decision to fly migrants to California but did not respond directly to the sharp criticism aimed at him by that state’s governor.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, called DeSantis a “small, pathetic man” for arranging the flights while Newsom and other state officials have suggested criminal charges could come in the wake of two flights that shipped migrants to Sacramento.

Florida had remained silent about the two flights, which started Friday, until Tuesday when the state released a video of migrants signing documents, waving and smiling on a plane, party bus or limousine. A spokesperson for the state agency that hired a contractor to organize the flights said all asylum seekers boarded the plane voluntarily.

Almost five days after that first flight, DeSantis weighed in on the transports after he was asked about it in Arizona.

“These sanctuary jurisdictions are part of the reason we have this problem because they have endorsed and agitated for these types off open border policies,” DeSantis said. “They have bragged they are sanctuary jurisdictions. They attack the previous admin efforts to try to have border security … When they have to deal with some of the fruits of that they all of a sudden become very, very upset about that.”

DeSantis also in his response said “this policy had been debated” and “vetted” by Florida legislators who had agreed to set aside millions for the migrant relocation program.

The DeSantis administration flew migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last September, a move denounced by Democrats including the White House. Those first flights of nearly 50 migrants triggered multiple lawsuits and investigations. A Texas sheriff earlier this week recommended that charges be leveled in connection with that effort.

The flights to Sacramento triggered a new round of outrage from Democrats, including the White House once again.

“I just don't understand what are these governors doing?” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday. “Why are they causing chaos? Why are they causing confusion? What does that actually do for their constituency or for the people who are being put on these planes or on the buses, and it just doesn't make sense, they're playing games and political stunts, they just are not going to actually deal with the issue at hand.”

Newsom, during an interview with NBC News, said it was “hyperbole” to suggest that DeSantis would be arrested for the flights when he comes to Sacramento later this month for a fundraiser for his presidential campaign. But Newsom, who said DeSantis was “flailing” and “desperate for attention,” told the network that the state is moving ahead with an investigation.

“Now, who’s ultimately accountable and responsible? I mean, the buck should stop with Ron DeSantis and the games he’s playing," Newsom told the network. "But it’s the folks on the front lines that were doing the dirty work. And that’s ultimately what we have to determine, is where the culpability lands and resides."

DeSantis had repeatedly brought up the flights to Martha’s Vineyard during his re-election campaign and his run for president, so it has been surprising that his administration waited days before acknowledging Florida’s involvement.

Other Republicans have been more forceful in pushing back against Newsom.

“My advice to Gavin Newsom go kick rocks and change your policy because it sucks for everybody,” Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) said on Fox News on Wednesday. “Don’t be mad that you have to deal with it now.”

DeSantis has been a sharp and persistent critic of the Biden administration and its handling of immigration and the state has filed lawsuits challenging some of the policies. DeSantis repeated his criticisms during an hour-long plus roundtable he held with several sheriffs and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody at a community college campus located close to the Mexican border.

“It’s probably as bad as it’s ever been,” said DeSantis, who said the border needs to be closed and the asylum policies need to be revamped. “It’s been a massive dereliction of duty by the president.”

The Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday reported that there has been a massive drop in encounters since the administration had lifted Title 42, an order that limited entry into the country due to Covid-19. DHS maintained that unlawful entries between ports of entry along the Southwest Border have decreased by more than 70 percent since May 11 and that it had repatriated more than 38,000 people back to Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua between May 12 to June 2.

Jeremy White contributed to this story.