[Massachusetts lawmakers are urging the Treasury Department to
investigate Florida governor DeSantis for "effectively using Covid-19
relief to score political points by exploiting vulnerable immigrants."
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LAWMAKERS CALL FOR FEDERAL PROBE OF DESANTIS OVER ‘CRUEL’ MIGRANT
STUNT  
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Jessica Corbett
September 16, 2022
Common Dreams
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_ Massachusetts lawmakers are urging the Treasury Department to
investigate Florida governor DeSantis for "effectively using Covid-19
relief to score political points by exploiting vulnerable immigrants."
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U.S. SEN. ED MARKEY led six fellow Massachusetts Democrats in the
House Friday in calling on the Treasury Department to investigate GOP
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' apparent abuse of federal Covid-19 relief
funds to send two flights of migrants to Martha's Vineyard this week.

Markey and Reps. Jake Auchincloss, Bill Keating, Jim McGovern, Seth
Moulton, Ayanna Pressley, and Lori Trahan sent a letter
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the department's Office of Inspector General (OIG) given the
governor's use of the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund
(SLFRF) "to cruelly relocate vulnerable immigrants from Florida to
other states across the country."

The lawmakers suggested the state's "inhumane program" violates
federal law and urged the OIG to not only investigate but also "take
all necessary action—including potentially rescinding any misused
funds—to stop this abuse of coronavirus relief programs."

Reportedly
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in by the false promise of jobs, one migrant from Peru and 49 from
Venezuela—including children—were flown to the Massachusetts
island community on Wednesday. While residents welcomed
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and rushed to provide food, clothing, and shelter, DeSantis has faced
intense criticism for what the lawmakers and others have denounced as
a "political stunt."

To pull it off, the lawmakers' letter explains, "DeSantis tapped a $12
million program that the Florida Legislature created earlier this year
to allow the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to
'facilitate the transport of unauthorized aliens out of Florida.'"

The letter highlights that "the $12 million was funded through 'the
interest earnings associated with the federal Coronavirus State and
Local Fiscal Recovery Fund,' effectively using Covid-19 relief to
score political points by exploiting vulnerable immigrants."

This conflicts with Congress' intent for the SLFRF, which was
established with the American Rescue Plan Act, the letter argues:

As explained in the Treasury Department's final rule implementing the
Fund, the SLFRF was intended to "fight the pandemic and support
families and businesses struggling with its public health and economic
impacts; maintain vital public services, even amid declines in revenue
resulting from the crisis; and build a strong, resilient, and
equitable recovery by making investments that support long-term growth
and opportunity." That rule further identified a limited set of uses
for SLFRF funds, including replacement of lost public sector revenue,
responding to the far-reaching public health and economic impact of
the pandemic, providing premium pay for essential workers, and
investing in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure.

While the rule was designed to provide flexibility to state and local
governments, Congress neither intended to allow, or authorized, state
governments to use the SLFRF funds for immigration enforcement.
Nothing in the American Rescue Plan Act or Treasury's final rule
appears to allow states to use SLFRF funds to remove or relocate
immigrants. Florida therefore appears to be illegally using taxpayer
money for theatrics intended to criminalize and stigmatize immigrants
in search of a better life in the United States.

The seven Massachusetts Democrats aren't the only high-profile figures
calling for a probe.

DeSantis' Democratic challenger for governor, Charlie Crist
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and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, also a Democrat, have both openly
supported involvement by the U.S. Department of Justice, with the
latter suggesting
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letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland that the Florida
Republican's actions could qualify for kidnapping charges.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre on Friday compared
DeSantis and GOP Texas Gov. Greg Abbott relocating asylum-seekers to
actions of human smugglers.

"These vulnerable migrants were reportedly misled about where they
were headed—told they would be headed to Boston, misled about what
they would be provided when they arrived, promised shelter, refuge,
benefits, and more," Jean-Pierre said. "These are the kinds of tactics
we see from smugglers in places like Mexico and Guatemala. And for
what? A photo-op."

_Axios_ reported
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flight records indicate the planes chartered by DeSantis flew from San
Antonio, Texas to Florida's panhandle before landing in Massachusetts.
After spending two nights at a Martha's Vineyard church, the migrants
on Friday were offered temporary housing on Joint Base Cape Cod.

"We are grateful to the providers, volunteers, and local officials
that stepped up on Martha's Vineyard over the past few days to provide
immediate services to these individuals," said
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Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican. "Our administration has been working
across state government to develop a plan to ensure these individuals
will have access to the services they need going forward, and Joint
Base Cape Cod is well-equipped to serve these needs."

Meanwhile, in Florida, faith and immigrant leaders came together
Friday to call out DeSantis.

"Why does this feel so wrong?" Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC)
spokesperson Stephanie Wall asked of the governor's stunt just weeks
away from his election. "Because it is wrong. Gov. DeSantis, this is
anti-family, anti-freedom, anti-faith, and anti-opportunity."

HOPE CommUnity Center founder Sister Ann Kendrick said that "I think
Jesus would be crying" and thanked the "good, hard-working people of
Martha's Vineyard… for stepping up and helping those immigrants who
were lied to."

* migrants
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* Immigration
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* Ron DeSantis
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* Florida
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