Immigrants moved to California claim they were deceived with promises of jobs
So far, neither DeSantis nor Abbott have issued a statement or declaration regarding this new stage of sending migrants to Democratic states as a method of protesting U.S. President Joe Biden’s border and immigration measures.
During this month, at least 36 immigrants were transferred from the city of El Paso, Texas to Sacramento, California under irregular circumstances by the Governor’s Office of Republicans Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis, with the promise that when they arrived in the Californian city, U.S. authorities would provide them with work and shelter.
During the course of June, a group of immigrants, mostly Colombians and Venezuelans, who were dropped off in the city of Sacramento, California, by several representatives, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM). According to one of the illegal immigrants, in a statement to CNN, he agreed to go to California because the authorities offered him a job.
In parallel, Amelia Johnson, spokesperson for FDEM, emphasized from the beginning of this new measure that the relocation of these immigrants to California is voluntary. “We were deceived by the people who provided the flight service. They offered us work and housing,” the Venezuelan migrant told CNN.
Last week some immigrants were contacted at the southern border of the United States while they were in shelters in the city of El Paso, Texas, by people who identified themselves as contractors of the Governor of Florida to be transferred to Sacramento, California. According to the Los Angeles Times, this group of migrants refused the offer for fear of being kidnapped by organ traffickers or drug traffickers.
Republicans continue with the shipment
The spokesperson for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (Chirla), this group that arrived in the Californian city of Los Angeles is made up of 42 immigrants, including 8 children and two senior citizens. Governor Abbott said that “Texas border towns continue to be overwhelmed and overrun by thousands of people crossing illegally from Mexico”.
Daniel Tse, coordinator of the group Asylum Taskforce, stated that several migrant rights organizations that are not motivated by or aligned with the political motives of Abbott’s bus campaign. “Our goal is to ensure that these initiatives are carried out in a more coordinated and compassionate manner, avoiding the dehumanization of people for political gain,” Tse said.
So far, neither DeSantis nor Abbott have issued a statement or declaration regarding this new stage of sending migrants to Democratic states as a method of protesting U.S. President Joe Biden’s border and immigration measures. However, they are still busing migrants to California from Texas.
With information from CNN and EFE