Florida Legislature expands Ron DeSantis’ program to fly migrants to blue states

Florida lawmakers passed a bill Friday expanding a program used to fly migrants to Democratic-led cities and states. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration will now be able to relocate migrants elsewhere from any state in the country, not just from Florida.

The bill formally creates the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program, building out a program enacted by DeSantis last year that enabled government officials to fly migrants to destinations in blue states that have sanctuary policies in place.

The move suggests that DeSantis has no intention of shying away from the contentious methods his administration has used to deal with migrants. Conservative allies have pointed to the practice as a necessary tool to draw attention to the border crisis in the U.S. GOP state Rep. John Snyder also argued during floor debate on Thursday that the program was «humanitarian» because it offered a «free, chartered flight» for migrants who want to move elsewhere in the country.

But Democrats and human rights advocates have decried expansion of the program, which some have compared to human trafficking. And in floor debate on Thursday, Democratic legislators also wondered why Florida taxpayer money should be used to to transport migrants from other states.

The bill passed both Republican-led chambers along party lines and now goes to DeSantis for his signature.

Jeremy Redfern, a DeSantis spokesperson for DeSantis, said the governor will review the bill «in its final form and decide on the merits of the bill as presented.»

In September, DeSantis flew two planes with 49 migrants aboard from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, saying that the funds to pay for it came from his latest budget.

The move drew harsh criticism from Democrats and immigrant advocates, who helped many of the migrants sue DeSantis and other state officials alleging they were victims of fraud for political purposes. Some migrants who were transported said they were not clearly told where they were going.