Newsom calls on DOJ to investigate Florida over migrant transports

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday called on the Justice Department to investigate the Florida program responsible for transporting migrants to Martha’s Vineyard and Sacramento.

The California Democratic officials, along with a sheriff in Texas, urged Attorney General Merrick Garland in a letter to open criminal and civil investigations into Florida’s “Unauthorized Alien Transport Program,” arguing that contractors hired by the state have used fraudulent tactics to coerce asylum seekers into accepting trips to liberal cities.

Newsom had previously publicly urged the DOJ to investigate DeSantis’ migrant flights, but the letter represents one of the most substantial moves yet by the California governor to press federal officials.

“It is unconscionable to use people as political props by persuading them to travel to another state based on false or deceptive representations,” the letter states. “We urge USDOJ to investigate potential violations of federal law by those involved in this Scheme.”

The move comes a month after two groups of migrants arrived by flight in Sacramento, spurring multiple California Department of Justice investigations and a threat from Newsom that Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis could face kidnapping charges.

The Thursday letter does not address a similar program orchestrated by Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has taken credit for busing over 20,000 people across the country to Chicago, Washington, D.C., and New York City as well as more than 100 people to Los Angeles in recent weeks. By comparison, DeSantis has transported about 100 migrants total to Massachusetts and California.

Democratic city and state leaders have also transported migrants, most notably New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who has sent migrants to Florida, Delaware, Texas and as far away as China.

Justice Department officials have stayed quiet on the controversial transportation tactic — which DeSantis and Abbott have framed as a protest to the ending of pandemic-related immigration laws — even as state law enforcement officials have expanded their legal fights.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, an elected Democrat who represents San Antonio and its surrounding suburbs, launched a probe in September after DeSantis flew about 50 mostly Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. Salazar asserts that that the migrants were falsely promised housing, job opportunities and schooling, and he referred his probe to the Bexar County District Attorney’s Office.

Newsom and Bonta, in their letter, argued that the cases should fall under federal oversight, as officials have moved migrants across state lines.

“Although separate investigations into potential violations of state laws remain active, the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ) has a unique capability to investigate cases where, as here, the scheme stretches from Massachusetts to California,” the letter reads.

Justice Department officials did not immediately respond to requests for comments on the letter.

The Treasury Department’s Inspector General in October confirmed that it would separately look into whether Florida improperly used Covid-19 aid for immigration activities. Florida has maintained that its use of interest earned on the relief funds to pay for transports is permissible under federal rules. The Florida Legislature earmarked $12 million in Covid-19 aid interest for the program last year.

The Treasury Department’s watchdog has not announced findings from the probe, which was part of a larger audit of states’ use of American Rescue Plan funds.