Florida Officials Defend Decision to Fly Migrants to California, Refuting Allegations of Coercion

Florida officials have defended their decision to fly 36 migrants from the U.S. southern border to California on private planes, refuting allegations by California officials that the individuals were coerced to travel under false pretenses.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management said in a statement Tuesday that the state’s relocation program was voluntary, noting that there was verbal and written consent indicating the migrants wanted to go to California. California Attorney General Rob Bonta had previously said the individuals had been picked up in El Paso, Texas, taken to New Mexico and then put on charter flights to California’s capital of Sacramento.

The flights, which took place on Monday and last Friday, have generated outrage from California authorities, who have said the flights may be breaking the law. Alecia Collins, a spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said in a statement that the migrants were given the option to stay in Florida, but chose to go to California.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has defended the decision to fly the migrants to California, saying that it was done in order to help alleviate the overcrowding of migrant shelters in the state. The state has also said that the flights were arranged in coordination with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The decision to fly the migrants to California has been met with criticism from both Texas and California officials, who have argued that the flights may be illegal. However, Florida officials maintain that the migrants were given the option to stay in Florida, and chose to go to California willingly.