Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Ripped For Deceiving, Relocating Migrants: 'Just Plain Wrong'

Democrats slammed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) for allegedly deceiving roughly 50 migrants in order to get them to board planes that they didnt know were bound for Marthas Vineyard.

DeSantis took credit for sending two planes packed with migrants from Venezuela and Colombia to the Massachusetts island on Wednesday. He and other Republican governors hope to use the relocation of migrants out of their states as a way to drum up attention to the White Houses immigration policies, The Associated Press reported.

The flights, which DeSantis claimed were paid for by a state program, started in San Antonio and made stops in Florida and the Carolinas before arriving in Marthas Vineyard, NPR reported. However, the migrants told the radio network that a woman who called herself Perla persuaded them to get on the plane and said theyd receive expedited work papers when they arrived in Boston.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) said short-term shelter was provided for the migrants who arrived in Marthas Vineyard.

Swerve ending to tonight's @TelemundoNews report from Martha's Vineyard. Props to @CristiLondono for unblinkingly reporting that not all residents are thrilled at this migrant dropoff. pic.twitter.com/s3FbUtwzPz

Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) September 15, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Jorge Bonilla","author_url":"https://twitter.com/BonillaJL","cache_age":86400,"description":"Swerve ending to tonight's @TelemundoNews report from Martha's Vineyard. Props to @CristiLondono for unblinkingly reporting that not all residents are thrilled at this migrant dropoff. pic.twitter.com/s3FbUtwzPz Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) September 15, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":360,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Fcu3c8TXEAAlqRn.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":640,"title":"Jorge Bonilla on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/BonillaJL/status/1570551680361537537","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6323f131e4b0eac9f4e01389","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/desantis-migrants-videographer-marthas-vineyard_n_6323f131e4b0eac9f4e01389","entryTagsList":"immigration,florida,gop,ron-desantis,marthas-vineyard","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/1d66e374-fe1a-4b0c-a791-c4ae21ee6fc8/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6323f131e4b0eac9f4e01389","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Immigration","slug":"immigration","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/immigration","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/immigration","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/immigration"},"relegenceSubjectId":980421,"department":{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"section":{"title":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"topic":{"title":"Social Justice","slug":"social-justice","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/impact/topic/social-justice"},{"name":"Florida","slug":"florida","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/florida","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/florida","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/florida"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"Florida","slug":"florida","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/florida"},{"name":"GOP","slug":"gop","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/gop","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/gop","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/gop"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Republican Party","slug":"republican-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/republican-party"},{"name":"Ron DeSantis","slug":"ron-desantis","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/ron-desantis","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/ron-desantis","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/ron-desantis"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Ron DeSantis","slug":"ron-desantis","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/ron-desantis"},{"name":"martha's vineyard","slug":"marthas-vineyard","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/marthas-vineyard","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/marthas-vineyard","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/marthas-vineyard"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/marthas-vineyard"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">

Swerve ending to tonight's @TelemundoNews report from Martha's Vineyard. Props to @CristiLondono for unblinkingly reporting that not all residents are thrilled at this migrant dropoff. pic.twitter.com/s3FbUtwzPz
Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) September 15, 2022

Democrats condemned the Florida governors actions, calling them a political stunt.

Rep. Bill Keating (D-Mass.) told WPRI-TV that DeSantis had misused public resources to pay for the flights. He also claimed island officials told him that a videographer was onboard one of the planes.

[DeSantis sent the migrants] so he could use it for his own advantage and then his paid-for political spokesperson was immediately taking credit, if you want to call it credit, for doing something that was clearly a political stunt, Keating said.

Keating later said the stunt wasnt even original and referred to legislation introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) last year that aimed to send migrants to new ports of entry, such as Nantucket and Marthas Vineyard .

This is clearly what it was, its quite transparent, its quite obvious and for Florida taxpayers, [its] extravagant, just for [DeSantis] own political end.

VIDEO: Just spoke with @USRepKeating who represents Martha's Vineyard - he says island officials told him Gov DeSantis sent a videographer with the migrants to capture footage of them on MV

Also praises @MassGovernor response

More of our interview at 4p on @wpri12 #mapoli #MA09 pic.twitter.com/nj9jFSl4Yg

Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) September 15, 2022","type":"rich","meta":{"author":"Ted Nesi","author_url":"https://twitter.com/TedNesi","cache_age":86400,"description":"VIDEO: Just spoke with @USRepKeating who represents Martha's Vineyard - he says island officials told him Gov DeSantis sent a videographer with the migrants to capture footage of them on MVAlso praises @MassGovernor responseMore of our interview at 4p on @wpri12 #mapoli #MA09 pic.twitter.com/nj9jFSl4Yg Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) September 15, 2022\n\n","options":{"_hide_media":{"label":"Hide photos, videos, and cards","value":false},"_maxwidth":{"label":"Adjust width","placeholder":"220-550, in px","value":""},"_theme":{"value":"","values":{"dark":"Use dark theme"}}},"provider_name":"Twitter","thumbnail_height":720,"thumbnail_url":"https://pbs.twimg.com/ext_tw_video_thumb/1570446502593445889/pu/img/EfsqB-0RkFhN0lP7.jpg:large","thumbnail_width":1280,"title":"Ted Nesi on Twitter","type":"rich","url":"https://twitter.com/TedNesi/status/1570446786657144832","version":"1.0"},"flags":[],"enhancements":{},"fullBleed":false,"options":{"theme":"news","device":"mobile","editionInfo":{"id":"us","name":"U.S.","link":"https://action.news","locale":"en_US"},"originalEdition":"us","isMapi":false,"isAmp":false,"isVideoEntry":false,"isEntry":true,"isMt":false,"entryId":"6323f131e4b0eac9f4e01389","entryPermalink":"https://action.news/entry/desantis-migrants-videographer-marthas-vineyard_n_6323f131e4b0eac9f4e01389","entryTagsList":"immigration,florida,gop,ron-desantis,marthas-vineyard","sectionSlug":"politics","deptSlug":"politics-news","sectionRedirectUrl":null,"subcategories":"us-news","isWide":false,"headerOverride":null,"noVideoAds":false,"disableFloat":false,"isNative":false,"commercialVideo":{"provider":"custom","site_and_category":"us.politics","package":null},"isHighline":false,"vidibleConfigValues":{"cid":"60afc111dcf87c2cd2f5d8bf","overrides":{"front_page_top_videos":{"desktop":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","mobileweb":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d"},"top_media":{"desktop":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","mobile":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"anthology":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"},"content":{"desktop":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","mobile":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","iphone":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","ipad":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","androidphone":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","androidtablet":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c"}},"playerUpdates":{"5668ae6ee4b0b5e26955d6a6":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","56aa41bae4b091744c0440d8":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81","5841b2b5cc52c716ec6e5a7f":"60b8e355cdd90620331ba185","58b5e2b8d85a10302feee895":"60b64316b171b7444beafdb2","58b74698f78ced31417819ae":"60b8e5bec5449357a7ad9b52","58b74ccecebcea57e2c3a3d1":"60b8e5eac5449357a7ad9ca5","58cff690d85a100b9992bc39":"60b8e616cdd90620331bb0ba","58cffb3fb6d9b972a49a3c9d":"60b8e643cdd90620331bb1f6","58cffdd74d96935d7d6ec180":"60b8e671c5449357a7ad9f66","58d03a84f78ced6518eb2fa7":"60b643c82e76be41f112735c","592edf20e0fa177b0c26f7fd":"60b8e699c5449357a7ada04c","5b35266b158f855373e28256":"60b64354b171b7444beaff4d","5c116f29f79c4171d82b7c2a":"60b64440b171b7444beb040b","5c1170fc600c9a697bf0c6b9":"60b646102e76be41f1127ffc","5c47791afa1b317df8ae0c4f":"60b8e6bdc5449357a7ada147","5c477987a6b48b35f164773d":"60b8e701c5449357a7ada2ee","5c4779ee943c3c2a64f28371":"60b8e747cdd90620331bb861","5c477a26fcd67b26879bc7c2":"60b8e788c5449357a7ada67b","5d8921a78c3ae845f366c9b6":"60ae7be5f3a7c13a30417ff9","58b98b00ba82aa39a6534321":"60d0de7c9340d7032ad1146c","58b9d14cb6d9b96c9ec32af3":"60d0dec19340d7032ad115a0","58cff8eccebcea42931e0436":"60d0e005b627221e9d819d44","592edf5de0fa177b0c26f95b":"60d0e38fb627221e9d81adcf","58cff72fd85a100b9992c112":"60d0e447b627221e9d81b0da","56b4d34fe4b022697697c400":"60d2472d9340d7032ad7e443","60b8e4c0c5449357a7ad957d":"60e869dc7c5f3b17b6741b81"}},"connatixConfigValues":{"defaultPlayer":"ff7fdddc-5441-4253-abc4-f12a33fad58b","clickToPlayPlayer":"d014396e-b366-4c17-aeac-3ce906fa3fd0","videoPagePlayer":"f010447b-d244-4111-a314-7b4542ae4145","verticalPlayer":"e58cb05a-0bc8-4210-9108-fea82726c065","stickyPlayerControl":"52ea1755-d601-4ad1-bccc-d8cce3f0e5da","stickyPlayerON":"8055e9e5-3bda-4933-8d45-9ad814fb6e22"},"topConnatixThumnbailSrc":"https://img.connatix.com/1d66e374-fe1a-4b0c-a791-c4ae21ee6fc8/1_th.jpg?crop=480:270,smart&width=480&height=270&format=jpeg&quality=60&fit=crop","customAmpComponents":[],"ampAssetsUrl":"https://amp.assets.huffpost.com","videoTraits":null,"positionInUnitCounts":{"buzz_head":{"count":0},"buzz_body":{"count":0},"buzz_bottom":{"count":0}},"positionInSubUnitCounts":{"article_body":{"count":4},"blog_summary":{"count":0},"before_you_go_content":{"count":0}},"connatixCountsHelper":{"count":1},"buzzfeedTracking":{"context_page_id":"6323f131e4b0eac9f4e01389","context_page_type":"buzz","destination":"huffpost","mode":"mobile","page_edition":"en-us"},"tags":[{"name":"Immigration","slug":"immigration","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/immigration","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/immigration","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/immigration"},"relegenceSubjectId":980421,"department":{"name":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"section":{"title":"Impact","slug":"impact"},"topic":{"title":"Social Justice","slug":"social-justice","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/impact/topic/social-justice"},{"name":"Florida","slug":"florida","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/florida","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/florida","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/florida"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"U.S. News","slug":"us-news"},"topic":{"title":"Florida","slug":"florida","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/florida"},{"name":"GOP","slug":"gop","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/gop","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/gop","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/gop"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Republican Party","slug":"republican-party","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/republican-party"},{"name":"Ron DeSantis","slug":"ron-desantis","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/ron-desantis","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/ron-desantis","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/ron-desantis"},"department":{"name":"Latest News","slug":"politics-news"},"section":{"title":"Politics","slug":"politics"},"topic":{"title":"Ron DeSantis","slug":"ron-desantis","overridesSectionLabel":false},"url":"https://action.news/news/topic/ron-desantis"},{"name":"martha's vineyard","slug":"marthas-vineyard","links":{"relativeLink":"topic/marthas-vineyard","permalink":"https://action.news/topic/marthas-vineyard","mobileWebLink":"https://action.news/topic/marthas-vineyard"},"url":"https://action.news/topic/marthas-vineyard"}],"isLiveblogLive":null,"isLiveblog":false,"cetUnit":"buzz_body","bodyAds":["

\r\n\r\n","

\r\n\r\n"],"adCount":0},"isCollectionEmbed":false}">

VIDEO: Just spoke with @USRepKeating who represents Martha's Vineyard - he says island officials told him Gov DeSantis sent a videographer with the migrants to capture footage of them on MV

Also praises @MassGovernor response

More of our interview at 4p on @wpri12 #mapoli #MA09 pic.twitter.com/nj9jFSl4Yg
Ted Nesi (@TedNesi) September 15, 2022

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

Can't afford to contribute? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the move by DeSantis inhumane on Thursday.

Republican governors... using migrants as political pawns is shameful, its reckless, and just plain wrong, Jean-Pierre said.