California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) requested that the Department of Justice investigate efforts by red state governors to transport immigrants to blue cities, calling what Republicans bill as a bid to highlight the crisis at the border an “inhumane” stunt.
The Democrat singled out Govs. Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida who in recent days have sent immigrants to such places as Chicago and Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts. In a letter, Newsom stated some of the people who were taken to Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday claim they were led to believe that they would be given a place to work in Boston.
“In particular, I urge US DOJ to investigate whether the alleged fraudulent inducement would support charges of kidnapping under relevant state laws, which could serve as a predicate offense for charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) provisions of the Organized Crime Control Act of 1970,” Newsom wrote to Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday.
What @GovRonDeSantis and @GregAbbott_TX are doing isn’t clever, it’s cruel.
I’m formally requesting the DOJ begin an immediate investigation into these inhumane efforts to use kids as political pawns. pic.twitter.com/x2sBa06nSw
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) September 15, 2022
VOTERS DEMAND BORDER BE SECURED, OK BUSING MIGRANTS TO DC AND NYC
The California governor also said recruiters targeted people to board the buses and planes based on their national origin and that the intent for this may have been to “humiliate and dehumanize them.” Newsom asked the DOJ to see if there are violations of their right to equal protection under the law that constituted a civil rights conspiracy in violation of U.S. Code.
Newsom is seen by many as a possible contender for a future presidential run. However, during an August interview, Newsom said a 2024 presidential run by him is “not going to happen,” even if President Joe Biden does not run for reelection.
California Gov. Newsom tells @mattgutmanabc he has no plans to run for president in 2024 and that Pres. Biden “can sleep better than any modern American president with what he’s accomplished in the last two years.” https://t.co/a7aUoFIWST pic.twitter.com/IrhtgB7BZo
— ABC News (@ABC) August 26, 2022
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DeSantis and Abbott, both of whom are running for reelection this year, are seen as contenders for the GOP nomination for the 2024 presidential election if they choose to pursue the White House.
A poll from YouGov released in late August found that DeSantis stacked up better against Biden in a speculative matchup for the 2024 general election than former President Donald Trump, though Biden edged both out within the margin of error.
