Florida Gov. DeSantis may continue migrant flights to Delaware, Illinois or other states

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Florida Gov DeSantis may continue migrant flights to Democratic states

Gov. Ron DeSantis speaking in Fort Myers, Fla., on Oct. 5. Photo: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) may continue organizing from Texas to other parts of the country, including Delaware and Illinois, according to documents reviewed by . Why it matters: The flights would follow the two planes carrying 48 migrants that were sent to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts from Texas in September, which have been criticized as a "."The migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard against DeSantis and other Florida officials, while their lawyers called on the federal government to into the flights. was expected in late September but never occurred. The documents reviewed by McClatchy revealed that Vertol Systems, the state contractor that flew the migrants to Martha's Vineyard, told Florida's Department of Transportation in a letter dated Oct. 8 that it wanted to continue proposed flights through Dec. 1. The letter also showed that Vertol proposed sending at least 100 migrants to "Delaware, Illinois or other states" for $950,000 in state funding between Sept. 19 and Oct. 3. previously reported that Vertol had until April 2023 to use $12 million given by Florida's legislature through the state's transportation department. What they're saying: "While Florida has had all hands on deck responding to our catastrophic hurricane, the immigration relocation program remains active," Taryn Fenske, DeSantis’ communications director, told .DeSantis' office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. The governor has previously denied misleading the migrants, saying they consented to the flights. The big picture: DeSantis, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R) have transported more than to liberal enclaves to protest the Biden administration's border policies, which they claim are too lax. A Texas sheriff into the flights in September, saying the migrants were "lured" onto a flight to Florida, then another flight to Massachusetts. The sheriff last week .The Treasury Department's Office of Inspector General also into the funding for the flights.New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) on Oct. 7 in response to migrants arriving in the city on buses primarily from Texas. Go deeper:

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