DeSantis to attend fundraiser on Cape Cod, near site of migrant flight

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to attend a fundraiser for his presidential campaign on Saturday on Cape Cod. The location: a ferry ride away from where he had migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard.

DeSantis is due to hobnob with deep-pocketed donors in Cotuit, Mass., which is just 10 miles from Joint Base Cape Cod, where the 49 migrants were voluntarily taken for longer-term shelter and access to free legal services.

DeSantis’ administration took credit ahead of Florida’s 2022 gubernatorial election for relocating South American migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha’s Vineyard, in a bid to highlight what he called President Joe Biden’s “open border” policy. The stunt sparked outrage from Democrats across the country and drew legal challenges from immigrant advocacy groups and a Democratic state senator.

DeSantis has repeatedly referenced the incident while stumping on the Republican presidential campaign trail, often drawing applause.

Now DeSantis is turning to the same blue state for cash to prop up his presidential campaign that’s bleeding money and recently laid off more than three dozen staffers. The $3,300-per-person fundraiser is being hosted by several big-name Massachusetts donors at a private location, according to an invitation obtained by POLITICO.

The Boston Globe first reported the fundraiser.

Meanwhile, a Texas sheriff’s office in Bexar County last month recommended criminal charges over the flights, saying unsuspecting migrants were lured to the wealthy enclave under false pretenses. The case is being reviewed by the local district attorney’s office.

DeSantis’ administration orchestrated similar flights this year — this time to Sacramento, Calif., in a political move against Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. The California governor threatened kidnapping charges in response.

During this year’s session, the Florida legislature set aside $12 million for such flights and altered the law so that state officials could move migrants from other states besides Florida. The changes, made by a GOP supermajority legislature, rendered other lawsuits over the Martha’s Vineyard flight moot, as the relocation law previously only allowed for flights departing from Florida.

As a candidate, DeSantis proposed numerous anti-illegal immigration measures that were similar to those of GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump. Two policies that were different from Trump would empower cities and states to deport people who are undocumented, and would require private businesses to check the immigration status of prospective workers.

The DeSantis campaign did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment.