Senate Democrats are seething over what they say was a “political stunt” by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who have sent planeloads and busloads of Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., and Washington, D.C.
Democratic lawmakers have grown increasingly frustrated with DeSantis and other GOP governors for transporting migrants to the liberal metropolises of Washington, New York and Chicago in an effort to pressure the Biden administration to pay more attention to illegal immigration.
Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), who pressed to include significant immigration reform in this year’s congressional agenda, said DeSantis’s stunt had disqualified him as a serious candidate for president in 2024.
“It’s a horrible stunt but none was worse than what DeSantis just did, and it should disqualify him from ever serving one more day in office,” Kaine said.
DeSantis had about 50 migrants in Texas sent to Martha’s Vineyard, while Abbott sent two busloads of mostly Venezuelan migrants to the vice president’s residence.
Kaine noted that Venezuelan migrants are fleeing “one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world” and that the United States is largest provider of humanitarian aid to Venezuela.
One wonders why Venezuelan migrants can't apply for asylum to a country closer to home.