Republican Governors Remove Migrants by Controversial Means
Governor DeSantis became the latest Republican governor to remove migrants by controversial means. DeSantis is following the lead of Governors Abbott from Texas and Ducey from Arizona who have been busing migrants from their respective states to Democratic cities such as Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C.
DeSantis potentially raised the stakes by flying migrants from a location in Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. The Florida governor said the move was necessary to keep the migrants out of the Sunshine state.
How did DeSantis pay for the flight to Martha’s Vineyard?
INSTRUCTORS: click the link below to download this week’s lecture for use in your classroom. The deck contains a writing prompt and a debate question as well as other assessment questions.
Videos:
News Articles:
DeSantis, Abbott strand migrants in Martha’s Vineyard and VP’s residence
CBS News
9/16/22
What’s next for the migrants Govs. DeSantis and Abbott sent to Martha’s Vineyard and Kamala Harris’ doorstep
Business Insider
9/16/22
DeSantis: ‘Trying to profile’ Florida-bound migrants in Texas in relocation program
Miami Herald
9/16/22
Scrutiny mounts over DeSantis’s use of state funds for migrant flights
Washington Post
9/16/22
https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2022/09/16/migrants-desantis-marthas-vineyard/
News Articles (Analyses):
Fight over border security escalates after governors send migrants to Kamala Harris’ home and Martha’s Vineyard
Texas Tribune
9/15/22
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/09/15/greg-abbott-texas-kamala-harris-migrant-bus/
Immigration policy debate heats up after Republican governors ship migrants out-of-state
7 News Boston
9/16/22
Arizona has bused nearly 2,000 migrants from the border
KPHO Phoenix
9/16/22
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/arizona-has-bused-nearly-2000-migrants-from-the-border/ar-AA11Uwh4
Biden accuses Abbott, DeSantis of using migrants as human ‘props’ by shipping them to NYC, liberal enclaves
New York Daily News
9/16/22
Assesment:
Writing: Explain why Governor DeSantis created such controversy when it appears that he was following the example of Governors Abbott and Ducey. Why have some critics alleged that DeSantis might have potentially broken laws?
Debate: Should the United States do more to process asylum cases expeditiously or seek to revise asylum laws to make them more restrictive?
Poll: Will either Governor Abbott or Governor DeSantis pay a political price for the methods they have used to remove migrants?
Short Answer: Why have migrants been sent to these specific Democratic cities?
QUIZ:
How did the Martha’s Vineyard community respond when 50 Venezuelan migrants were sent to their city?
- the migrants were sent back to Texas
- the migrants were sent back to Venezuela
- the migrants were cared for by community members and moved by the governor to housing at Cape Cod
- the community was prepared because of close coordination with Governor DeSantis
Why do critics of Governors Abbott and DeSantis’ methods also question the timing?
- both governors are running for reelection and are locked in competitive races
- they both previously agreed to stay out of immigration matters
- the migrants are being sent to cities with severe fall weather
- both governors are term limited and finishing the remaining months of their terms
Who is financing the cost of the bus rides to Democratic cities and the plane trip to Martha’s Vineyard?
- wealthy donors
- private donations
- the gubernatorial campaigns
- state taxpayers
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker, a Republican, helped provide accommodations for the Venezuelan migrants who were sent to Martha’s Vineyard. (T/F)
The governors of California and New Mexico have also bused migrants to Democratic cities. (T/F)
Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is running for reelection in November. (T/F)
