Calls grow to investigate DeSantis over misinformation given to migrants
by Rafael Bernal and Rebecca Beitsch - 09/23/22 5:45 PM ET
Misinformation given to a group of migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., has raised calls for an investigation into whether Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis intentionally misled the asylum-seekers, potentially violating the law.
The group of 50 were not only promised housing and employment — immigration law experts say they were given bad advice that could actually jeopardize their immigration status as they seek to remain in the U.S.
Perhaps the most controversial information provided to the migrants came in the form of brochures with information on how to register as refugees in Massachusetts, despite the fact that they’re asylum-seekers and are not eligible to register for that program.
“Refugees are different than asylum-seekers. Refugees get benefits; asylum-seekers do not. Refugees get approval beforehand; asylum-seekers do not. These people have all been processed — they’re not illegal because they’ve been processed by Customs and Border Protection. There’s so much here that’s just full of lies,” Rep. Nanette Barragán (D-Calif.) told The Hill.
The state of Florida has also called the migrants “illegal immigrants,” but gave them guidance about how to navigate parts of the legal immigration system. This apparent contradiction has spurred questions about whether DeSantis’s operators deliberately misled the migrants, or whether Florida officials misunderstood basic precepts of immigration law.
DeSantis communications director Taryn Fenske defended the brochures, saying the information was pulled directly from publicly available Massachusetts government websites.
“I will say that the brochure is legitimate and if you google it, it’ll confirm the information was directly from the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants. So, it’s unclear why many in the media are portraying it as being fraudulent or incorrect,” Fenske wrote in an email to The Hill.
DeSantis and fellow GOP Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona have continuously defended the migrant transport, arguing that so-called sanctuary jurisdictions are in a better position to attend to migrants than non-sanctuary states.
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https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/3658867-calls-grow-to-investigate-desantis-over-misinformation-given-to-migrants/
