DeSantis paid $615,000 to aviation company for migrant relocation

[HAB911]

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration last week paid an aviation company $615,000 as part of a new Florida program to relocate immigrants lacking permanent legal status out of the state, according to state records.

Records show the company, Vertol Systems Company Inc., was paid on Sept. 8. A week later, DeSantis took credit for sending a group of 48 migrants — most, if not all, from Venezuela — to Martha’s Vineyard, a summer island destination for the rich and powerful in Massachusetts.

Vertol Systems’ website shows it is based in Hillsboro, Oregon, but has operations in Destin in Florida’s Panhandle.

The payment, which records say was for a “relocation program of unauthorized aliens,” was made by the Florida Department of Transportation, which earlier this year received $12 million to transport “unauthorized aliens from this state” to other parts of the country.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2022/09/16/desantis-administration-paid-615000-aviation-company-relocate-unauthorized-aliens/

[C_U_L8R]

1. They're going to get sued for a lot more than that.

Maybe it wasn't such a genius idea after all. Derp.

[MagickMuffin]

2. a "relocation program of unauthorized aliens,"

Sounds outright evil!

Go GET EM VAL!

[MiniMe]

3. When I read through the article, it said that some of the people came into Texas and seemed to move

on to Florida. I didn't see anything that they were transporting people from Texas. Wouldn't surprise me, but that isn't in the article.

[Ritabert]

6. The migrants were lured in San Antonio

...and loaded onto planes coming out of San Antonio. They stopped briefly in Crestview Florida but I don't know if any migrants got onboard there. They also stopped in North Carolina perhaps for fuel.

[Picaro]

4. Problem is that these people are refugees

They are not "unauthorized aliens". These are refugees that are attempting to go through the asylum process.

Even if they are not refugees it is most likely illegal to transport people (yes, they're still people) without their consent or if their consent is secured with falsehoods or pressure.

When did we stop seeing people as people that are due respect and assistance?

[magicarpet]

5. Jeez,.. that is a big chunk of change.... $615K.

These conservatives just aren't so thrifty and frugal with taxpayer's money if the chance for vitriol and hatred of the darkies happens to become available.

Then it is spend spend spend public funds to let POC know you hated and despise them to your very core. Money is of no object - just display your racism in all its glory and without any reservations.

Rather than political conservatism or monetary frugality - this more closely mirrors the doctrines of Fascism.

And these folks have the audacity to call themselves devout Christians and followers of the teachings of Jesus Christ ?

What a fucking joke they are.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

7. FL paid Vertol Systems $615,000 on Sept 8th out of the $12m deportation fund.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[honest.abe]

8. This should be made into an ad and run in Florida daily until the midterms.

Its outrageous and the people in Florida should be aware of it.

[Initech]

9. This gets more horrible the more I read about it!

Fuck you Desantis! And also fuck you Fox News!

[KentuckyWoman]

10. My bet is on someone at Vertol being buddies or related to DeSantis.

It is ALWAYS about the money.