[ [link removed] ]Sign my petition: Investigate Ron DeSantis for human trafficking and
for violating federal immigration law NOW.

Dear MoveOn member,

You read that right: Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis must be
investigated for human trafficking and for violating federal immigration
law. On Wednesday, DeSantis may have violated federal law by using over
$600,000 in taxpayer dollars to lure 50 Venezuelan asylum seekers onto a
flight to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.^1

When they arrived, many asked, “Where am I?” They were intentionally
deceived and told that they would be given housing and jobs and were put
on a plane with nothing but a brochure.^2 It’s absolutely inhumane.

[ [link removed] ]If we come together, we can make sure that Ron DeSantis is held
accountable. Will you take action now and sign my petition demanding the
investigation of Ron DeSantis for human trafficking and violating federal
immigration law?

The stories from these immigrants are both heartbreaking and enraging.
Some of the families shared that they were staying at a shelter when a
woman approached them and lured and recruited them onto a plane where she
told them they’d be flown to Boston, where they could get expedited work
papers. Others were told that they would be given housing.^3 But it was
all a lie. 

Andres, one of the immigrants, said, "She offered us help. Help that never
arrived. Now we are here. We got on the plane with a vision of the future,
of making it." He then explained why he got on the plane with so little
details. "Look, when you have no money and someone offers help, well, it
means a lot."^4

Massachusetts officials had no idea that Ron DeSantis was sending 50
people either. So when they arrived, they had to walk over two miles to
find a community center that could help them.^5 It’s shameful that instead
of treating asylum seekers with the love, dignity and care they deserve,
Republican governors like Ron DeSantis are exploiting them and using them
as political pawns.

[ [link removed] ]Add your name to my petition: Investigate Ron DeSantis for human
trafficking and violating federal immigration law.

Families, including children, were transported across state lines under
false pretenses. This was a premeditated effort targeting vulnerable
people simply seeking a better life. And it is completely reprehensible.
The time to investigate Ron DeSantis is NOW.

[4]Sign my petition

This is not an isolated incident, either. Republican governors like Greg
Abbott are also cruelly sending migrants across the country. And
Republicans across the country have shown no signs of stopping their
cruel, anti-immigrant agenda. In fact, after opposing President Biden’s
coronavirus recovery package, DeSantis allocated $12 MILLION of interest
earnings from the Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund (which is
supposed to be used to help Floridians recover from the impacts of the
pandemic) to implement this discriminatory state program which removes and
transports undocumented people outside the state of Florida, with no
regard to their safety or well-being.^6

This comes at a time when Floridians are suffering through a health care
crisis, struggling with soaring rent prices, struggling to afford
groceries, struggling with rising utility bills, and struggling to afford
basic necessities. But Ron DeSantis’s priority is to demonize immigrants
instead of showing up for our communities.

We will not forget: Families, including children, are being transported
across state lines under false pretenses. And immigrants are being treated
inhumanely. We also can’t forget about the Haitian immigrants whom Border
Patrol agents in Texas struck with horse reins. We can’t forget that there
was a lack of food, water, and medical care in those camps. And there has
still been no accountability for that. These are not isolated incidents.
They are deliberate actions relentlessly carried out by anti-immigrant
Republicans. It’s completely unacceptable, and it needs to end now.^7

[ [link removed] ]Click here to add your name to my urgent petition, and then send it to
3 friends to spread the word.

Republicans want to divide us by demonizing immigrants. But no one is
illegal on stolen land. And immigrants deserve to be welcomed and treated
with dignity, love, and care. Together, we can keep fighting for
immigration justice, including a pathway to citizenship for undocumented
folks. 

Thanks for all you do.

–Vanessa Brito

Sources:

1. "DeSantis Flying Migrants to Martha’s Vineyard May Have Violated
Federal Law, Experts Say," Rolling Stone, September 15, 2022
[link removed]

2. "GOP governors put focus on migrants with Martha's Vineyard transport,"
Politico, September 15, 2022
[link removed]

3. "Migrants on Martha's Vineyard flight say they were told they were
going to Boston," NPR, September 15, 2022
[link removed]

4. Ibid.

5. "Florida Gov. DeSantis says 50 people flown to Martha's Vineyard are
'illegal immigrants,'" USA Today, September 14, 2022
[link removed]

6. "Controversy continues over DeSantis' $12 million plan to transport
undocumented migrants out of Florida," Tallahassee Democrat, August 28,
2022
[link removed]

7. "After Del Rio, some Haitian migrants found safety in the U.S. But many
have not," NPR, September 7, 2022
[link removed]

You're receiving this petition because we thought it might interest you.
It was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online
petitions. You can [ [link removed] ]start your own petition here.




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