Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) argued that flying undocumented immigrants from the border to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts was a very Christian thing to do.
At a virtual town hall in Iowa hosted by a Iowa’s Gray Television Stations, DeSantis pushed backed against criticism from some Iowa Christian conservatives who said the move was not a “Christian-like effort.”
“Well, actually, I mean, I don’t think that that’s a good analysis,” DeSantis said, according to WOWT. He claims the migrants were “destitute” and he wanted to give them a better life.
“They were people that were basically destitute. Biden wasn’t doing anything — he’s letting them in, and they’re basically on the streets,” he said.
“If Biden’s letting them in, they should go to sanctuary jurisdictions,” he continued. “Martha’s Vineyard’s very wealthy. They had an office saying that wanted anyone to come regardless of status. They held themselves out to be a sanctuary jurisdiction. That was much better for the illegal aliens to be in Martha’s Vineyard than where they were.”
On September 14, 2022 two planes transported 48 undocumented immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard. They were lured onto the private jets from a shelter in San Antonio, Texas with a promise of jobs and help with the immigration process.
DeSantis was criticized at the time and accused of human trafficking.
Asked why he was taking migrants from Texas to Massachusetts, DeSantis said “they did come to Florida and then they were taken from Florida to Martha’s Vineyard.”
The planes that left San Antonio briefly touched down in Florida before eventually landing in Massachusetts.
