DeSantis’ migrant stunt is everything that's wrong with our politics

Abandoning helpless families for political clout exemplifies Republican's callous culture

Amidst the increasing crisis of uncared-for immigrants seeking refuge and opportunity in the United States, Florida governor Ron Desantis sought to make matters worse, coordinating an effort to fly roughly 50 migrants from Texas to the affluent Massachusetts island community of Martha's Vineyard.

The Republican governor and rumored White House hopeful’s stunt was a part of a larger ploy by Republican governors to send undocumented immigrants to ‘sanctuary’ districts across the country.

The 50 Venezuelan immigrants had been corralled by someone hired by the Florida governor to dupe them onto the planes headed to the island. The migrants were allegedly told they were traveling to Boston and promised shelter, food, and jobs,

In a statement, DeSantis confirmed that “two planes with illegal immigrants…arrived in Martha’s Vineyard today were part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations."

DeSantis did not inform the Vineyard or state of the arrival beforehand, thrusting the desperate families into precarious situations. 

Imagine traveling to America, desperate for an opportunity to provide and care for your family. You're promised shelter and a job while getting hauled onto a plane that you think is going to Boston. You get off, tired, carrying all your belongings, and are told you’re on a small island with no ready resources. You’re left stranded with your young children in a place where few speak your language, and even fewer know who you are or how you got there. How would you feel?

Lawyers representing the migrants said their clients were, “lured ... under false pretenses” to Martha's Vineyard, “where they were unceremoniously stranded.”

DeSantis' stunt to trick helpless families to make a political point, highlights just how callous Republican political culture is.

For a group that complains so much about ‘virtue signaling’ and inaction, Republicans are quick to perform pointless antics rather than participate in meaningful dialogue regarding reform.

Despite what pundits espouse, no one on the political spectrum believes that the current immigration system is functional or without flaws. More than 2 million illegal border crossers have been detained this year – an estimated 11.3 million undocumented immigrants live in the US. 

Those both on the left and right agree that these millions should not be crossing illegally and should not be undocumented, yet only those on the left offer realist solutions. Increasing or eliminating quotas, cutting bureaucracy, reforming drug laws, and creating a path to citizenship are all valuable ways to better secure our borders and ensure that incoming citizens are legal, accounted for, and safe. 

While progressives claim DeSantis was inconsiderate in sending the migrants to Massachusetts, he charges that Democrats were uncaring following the death of 51 border crossers in the back of a truck in San Antonio in June. 

Despite their rhetoric regarding the tragedy in San Antonio, Republicans refuse to acknowledge immigration catastrophes are caused by the unwelcoming policies they support.

If the 51 migrants felt welcomed and had the ability to safely and legally seek refuge, they would not have suffered in the brutal way they did. 

The US is a nation of immigrants. We are the ‘melting pot’ or ‘fruit salad’ of the world. Our economy thrives on immigrant labor, our institutions flourish with unique ideas and experiences. Using desperate humans as a political prop does nothing more than desensitizing us to the chaos our current immigration system presents.

Too often politicians forget that their policies, rhetoric, and directives affect the lives of real people. DeSantis wanted to score a point rather than tend to the needs of the helpless. We are so caught up in left v. right, that we forget about the people.