DeSantis engaged in large scale human trafficking with tax $

[basilosaurus]

I can already hear FL's response of "but they bus the homeless south to us so it's a fair trade."

Which, yes, bussing the unhoused south does happen, and FL is very much a recipient of that, last I read the largest in the country. But that in no way is an excuse for this. Luring people onto a plane with lies! Good on MV!

[goldengirlz]

The level of callous disregard for human beings is beyond the pale.

And this, folks, is the so-called pro-life party.

[lilac05]

Sept 15, 2022 21:10:56 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I can already hear FL's response of "but they bus the homeless south to us so it's a fair trade."

Which, yes, bussing the unhoused south does happen, and FL is very much a recipient of that, last I read the largest in the country. But that in no way is an excuse for this. Luring people onto a plane with lies! Good on MV!

What drives me crazy is the “what about” garbage. Both things can be true! Both things can be awful. We don’t even need to go into which is worse and why. Treating people like anything less than a human being worthy of love, respect, dignity, etc is not OK. Ever. Just because one is mad about the flights doesn’t mean they aren’t also angry about bussing unhoused people. And like most of us probably heard a million times…two wrongs don’t make a right.

[basilosaurus]

Sept 15, 2022 21:48:57 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Sept 15, 2022 21:10:56 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

I can already hear FL's response of "but they bus the homeless south to us so it's a fair trade."

Which, yes, bussing the unhoused south does happen, and FL is very much a recipient of that, last I read the largest in the country. But that in no way is an excuse for this. Luring people onto a plane with lies! Good on MV!

What drives me crazy is the “what about” garbage. Both things can be true! Both things can be awful. We don’t even need to go into which is worse and why. Treating people like anything less than a human being worthy of love, respect, dignity, etc is not OK. Ever. Just because one is mad about the flights doesn’t mean they aren’t also angry about bussing unhoused people. And like most of us probably heard a million times…two wrongs don’t make a right.

I'm pretty sure I posted about it when it happened. It was maybe my first, second week living in Hawaii. The new "homeless czar" gave a talk. It was attended by the local news. He literally said something about how when family takes out the trash before they arrive at xmas and equated that to the removal of the unhoused before an ASEAN meeting. He said this after cameras left. Former priest. Defrocked for, you guessed it, sexual impropriety. 

I'm sure where I stand on which side is terrible. There is no both sides. I will go into which is worse and why. Because there is definitely a side that is worse, and I will tell you all the whys. 

[lilac05]

Sept 15, 2022 22:26:49 GMT -5 basilosaurus said:

Sept 15, 2022 21:48:57 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

What drives me crazy is the “what about” garbage. Both things can be true! Both things can be awful. We don’t even need to go into which is worse and why. Treating people like anything less than a human being worthy of love, respect, dignity, etc is not OK. Ever. Just because one is mad about the flights doesn’t mean they aren’t also angry about bussing unhoused people. And like most of us probably heard a million times…two wrongs don’t make a right.

I'm pretty sure I posted about it when it happened. It was maybe my first, second week living in Hawaii. The new "homeless czar" gave a talk. It was attended by the local news. He literally said something about how when family takes out the trash before they arrive at xmas and equated that to the removal of the unhoused before an ASEAN meeting. He said this after cameras left. Former priest. Defrocked for, you guessed it, sexual impropriety. 

I'm sure where I stand on which side is terrible. There is no both sides. I will go into which is worse and why. Because there is definitely a side that is worse, and I will tell you all the whys. 

I agree with you that one is worse, and likely understand & agree with all of your whys. ..but we likely agree on far more than we disagree on political issues. My point is that in my experience, when talking with Trumpers or really anyone who tries to make these “what about” arguments and “gotcha” statements is that trying to argue why theirs is worse is a waste of time and energy. What they hear is different than what I say. They hear excuses and support of the other thing, even though I am not saying that. Simply saying, “Both can be true. Both can be awful. I don’t support X, either”, at least in my experience, is more effective than arguing which one is worse, even if there is a clearly “worse” situation.

But we don’t have to agree on how/when to engage in these conversations. You do what works for you & I’ll do what works for me. There’s no single right/wrong way to do it. My post wasn’t to call you out on doing anything I thought was “wrong”. The “we” in my post wasn’t about you/me or this post, but whoever I disagree with (often my dad) & me. Arguing which is worse goes nowhere. Saying “yep! I agree that’s wrong, too…but that’s not what we’re talking about” has been more productive *for me*. You may have had a different experience.

[Velar Fricative]

Gift link, some @ mentions but mostly focused on adults: www.nytimes.com/2022/09/15/us/marthas-vineyard-venezuela-migrants.html?unlocked_article_code=AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAACEIPuonUktbfqYhkQVUaBibIRp8ipweahfHUhaI9gHLvJTKZDChPyekHHoWE8gLIZKV5bt0vxHKbWNpFevcJdcBF89V-bQZrWhX65dyNgogEKCE47t64Ujw40c6RGLxlqGSvMzG0caJ2mebh-h7XYGHqD_Pc1HUkIh134scwLSHc0n0Pxa3DEeJzy4M-ia9nXsYmMG9GMCqavPDoCAF8MMGFaXzf6Qo3XuJbXVLDjILWquJAIEgJVwWwHD4o6n086dhcJNocIKz9ShYgc8D4irwVYXd6N_FdALA6qyMvvzy7GQD1hg&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

The part about people crying when they heard they were landing in MV and not where they expected…I don’t care if she’s just a foot soldier, I hope they find that asshole Perla.

[5kcandlesinthewind]

Sorry if I missed this already in here somewhere, but a friend from the Vineyard shared some links for places to donate if you are so inclined:

Island Food Pantry

MV Community Services

St. Andrews Episcopal church (I hesitated before adding this one, because, you know, church. But they do run a shelter on the island and took in the migrants.)

I am not at all surprised at the response by the Islanders. I doubt the response would have been different even if it had been the height of tourist season, but these people live on a gd island in New England year-round. They understand exactly how interconnected people are for survival. 

[eponinepontmercy]

I am so fucking enraged at this. The casual cruelty, and the people applauding it, are just disgusting, especially by people who claim to be Christians.

NewOrleans Someone on a local politician's page told me to read Paul's letter to the Romans to explain why the migrants deserve the wrath of God for breaking the law.

[pixy0stix]

TX has apparently trafficked 8900 people to other parts of the country, at the cost of $12M - www.texastribune.org/2022/08/31/texas-12-million-migrant-busing-program/


How is this legal and why haven't they been arrested?

[eponinepontmercy]

Sept 16, 2022 8:23:29 GMT -5 5kcandlesinthewind said:

Sorry if I missed this already in here somewhere, but a friend from the Vineyard shared some links for places to donate if you are so inclined:

Island Food Pantry

MV Community Services

St. Andrews Episcopal church (I hesitated before adding this one, because, you know, church. But they do run a shelter on the island and took in the migrants.)

I am not at all surprised at the response by the Islanders. I doubt the response would have been different even if it had been the height of tourist season, but these people live on a gd island in New England year-round. They understand exactly how interconnected people are for survival. 

Just to follow up, they are being relocated to a military base on Cape Cod, which cannot accept donations.


www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2022/09/16/migrants-desantis-marthas-vineyard/

State official’s said they had a plan to assist the migrants who decide to stay on the base, including shelter, clothing, personal hygiene kits, good, and access to health care, mental health, and counseling in their native language. The base is unable to accept donations, officials said.

I'm sure MV would appreciate the assistance to replenish their supplies, though.

[Pom]

Sept 16, 2022 8:32:25 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

TX has apparently trafficked 8900 people to other parts of the country, at the cost of $12M - www.texastribune.org/2022/08/31/texas-12-million-migrant-busing-program/


How is this legal and why haven't they been arrested?

The obscene dirty tricks the TX GOP has pulled over the years, especially recently, is beyond vile and disgusting. Against not only asylum seekers but against TEXAS CITIZENS.

But will any of the Republicans lift a fucking finger to help fix immigration?  Nope, they just sit around and bitch about people being too lazy to work and how there is no one to hire. I can't even with this shit.

[Bad Dingo]

These people are criminals and just disgusting human beings.

[suzyp]

Sept 16, 2022 8:32:25 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

TX has apparently trafficked 8900 people to other parts of the country, at the cost of $12M - www.texastribune.org/2022/08/31/texas-12-million-migrant-busing-program/


How is this legal and why haven't they been arrested?

I have not read the link (I know, I know), but it is my understanding that everyone on the TX buses to DC were there voluntarily and were actually told where they were going. It was specifically done this way because it would be against the law otherwise. Now, there are a lot of issues - like that some people did not really understand were they were going and the on-going BS that Texas absolutely refused to coordinate or tell anyone when the buses would arrive (or dropping them off at the Naval Observatory yesterday instead of Union Station like they had been).  However, for some of the migrants, it was actually helpful because it was a way for them to get closer or to their destination in the US.

Abbott basically claimed that he was rounding up migrants and throwing them on a bus out of Texas to DC to gain political points, but what he has been actually doing is a bit different than what he was making it out to be.  I AM IN NOT ANYWAY DEFENDING IT, but unsurprisingly, his BS for his political show was not what he was actually doing.  

TX is apparently paying $1700 to bus someone from TX to DC and I don't think they are feeding them so I want to know what donor is pocketing all this money - for $1700, they should be on a first class one way ticket to DC - it's cheaper and they'd at least get a snack box.

[pixy0stix]

Even if they knew where they were going, it's still under false pretenses.

Beyond that, TX is now bussing undocumented individuals from areas where they are known and waiting processing to wherever the bus let's them off. Wouldn't that disrupt their legal process?

[NewOrleans]

Sept 16, 2022 8:29:54 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

I am so fucking enraged at this. The casual cruelty, and the people applauding it, are just disgusting, especially by people who claim to be Christians.

NewOrleans Someone on a local politician's page told me to read Paul's letter to the Romans to explain why the migrants deserve the wrath of God for breaking the law.

Remember when AW told us the Good Samaritan justified anti-immigration sentiment because he didn’t bring the traveler home with him all the way to Samaria and put him up in an inn? 🤣

[pixy0stix]

Sept 16, 2022 13:12:39 GMT -5 NewOrleans said:

Sept 16, 2022 8:29:54 GMT -5 eponinepontmercy said:

I am so fucking enraged at this. The casual cruelty, and the people applauding it, are just disgusting, especially by people who claim to be Christians.

NewOrleans Someone on a local politician's page told me to read Paul's letter to the Romans to explain why the migrants deserve the wrath of God for breaking the law.

Remember when AW told us the Good Samaritan justified anti-immigration sentiment because he didn’t bring the traveler home with him all the way to Samaria and put him up in an inn? 🤣

I just about had an aneurysm that day.

Eta: Of all the ways that she perverted basic Christian scripture, I never in my wildest dreams thought someone could interpret that teaching that way. It hit my very core.

[audette]

Sept 16, 2022 12:50:51 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Even if they knew where they were going, it's still under false pretenses.

Beyond that, TX is now bussing undocumented individuals from areas where they are known and waiting processing to wherever the bus let's them off. Wouldn't that disrupt their legal process?

It will.

You have to file a change of address form to transfer your case to a new region when you move.

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 16, 2022 12:50:51 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Even if they knew where they were going, it's still under false pretenses.

Beyond that, TX is now bussing undocumented individuals from areas where they are known and waiting processing to wherever the bus let's them off. Wouldn't that disrupt their legal process?

That was their goal per the attorney in the above tweet. For example, they were told to visit the wrong agency when they needed to check in regarding their asylum process. And obviously if they didn't show up to the right place for that they'd be deported.

If anyone can't see the video above, here is a really in-depth piece from the Martha's Vineyard Times with text of what the attorney said, along with other attorneys' statements. They were tricking these people into not complying with check in dates and such.

www.mvtimes.com/2022/09/15/attorney-migrants-kidnapped/

But then get a load of this bullshit:

"In response to comments that Martha’s Vineyard does not have an existing infrastructure or plan to handle a situation such as this, and is not set up in a way that allows the Island to be prepared for an influx of migrants, O’Keefe responded, 'and Arizona and New Mexico are?'"

Who is this O'Keefe, you ask? Only Michael O'Keefe, the District Attorney for Martha's Vineyard. At least the US Attorney for Massachusetts doesn't seem like an asshole. 

[redheadbaker]

Tweet from JFK Library, text says "To embarrass Northern liberals and humiliate Black people, southern White Citizens Councils started their so-called "Reverse Freedom Rides," giving Black people one-way tickets to northern cities with false promises of jobs, housing, and better lives."

with a pic of an old newspaper article from February 1963 with the headline "Negro Family on Way Here"

Link to image: www.jfklibrary.org/asset-viewer/archives/BMPP/005/BMPP-005-007?image_identifier=BMPP-005-007-p0068

[omgzombies]

Sept 16, 2022 8:32:25 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

TX has apparently trafficked 8900 people to other parts of the country, at the cost of $12M - www.texastribune.org/2022/08/31/texas-12-million-migrant-busing-program/


How is this legal and why haven't they been arrested?

It's been going on for awhile, and I felt like the TX bussing situation received decent news coverage, so I'm a bit surprised that this is somehow sparking more outrage.  It's absolutely heinous, but I've definitely been caught off guard by the backlash the Florida is receiving after watching the ambivalence over the same thing occurring in Texas.  I sort of assumed that the general public/media decided it wasn't worth paying much attention too.  I'm curious to know why this particular incident seems to have caught people's attention.  Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of the kindness and treatment shown to them in MV?

[Bad Dingo]

I think it's the added waste and expense of a flight and also that DeSantis was making it out to be migrants from FL when he actually flew them from Texas. And of course because it's Martha's Vineyard.

I'd only heard of the bussing happening a couple of times, I had no idea it was ongoing and to what extent. I'm sure it's not ambivalence so much as there are so many horrible things the Republicans are doing, how can we keep up?

The $12 million number is just mind boggling. Why not just give each of the migrants $1500 to help settle them? Rhetorical, I know why.

[Velar Fricative]

Sept 16, 2022 19:29:16 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

Sept 16, 2022 8:32:25 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

TX has apparently trafficked 8900 people to other parts of the country, at the cost of $12M - www.texastribune.org/2022/08/31/texas-12-million-migrant-busing-program/


How is this legal and why haven't they been arrested?

It's been going on for awhile, and I felt like the TX bussing situation received decent news coverage, so I'm a bit surprised that this is somehow sparking more outrage.  It's absolutely heinous, but I've definitely been caught off guard by the backlash the Florida is receiving after watching the ambivalence over the same thing occurring in Texas.  I sort of assumed that the general public/media decided it wasn't worth paying much attention too.  I'm curious to know why this particular incident seems to have caught people's attention.  Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of the kindness and treatment shown to them in MV?

Maybe it’s because I live in a city receiving TX migrants but there is plenty of outrage here. Not because they’ve arrived but because it’s an obvious political stunt and no one is getting advanced notice.

Also, in those cases it appears migrants knew where they were going and got to where they requested to go. That does not appear to have happened in MA. And MV couldn’t possibly have been their first choice destination. Boston? Sure, that would be believable. But not MV.

[sent]

I’ve vaguely heard of the buses but this is shocking to me because I’ve been to MV. It’s an island. I took a ferry because the only other way to get there is to fly. There aren’t many places in the US like this. So it’s very outlandish that this is the destination that was intentionally chosen. Someone had to put a lot of thought into selecting MV and then spent much more money than chartering a bus to pull this stunt off.

[omgzombies]

Sept 16, 2022 23:12:47 GMT -5 Velar Fricative said:

Sept 16, 2022 19:29:16 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

It's been going on for awhile, and I felt like the TX bussing situation received decent news coverage, so I'm a bit surprised that this is somehow sparking more outrage.  It's absolutely heinous, but I've definitely been caught off guard by the backlash the Florida is receiving after watching the ambivalence over the same thing occurring in Texas.  I sort of assumed that the general public/media decided it wasn't worth paying much attention too.  I'm curious to know why this particular incident seems to have caught people's attention.  Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of the kindness and treatment shown to them in MV?

Maybe it’s because I live in a city receiving TX migrants but there is plenty of outrage here. Not because they’ve arrived but because it’s an obvious political stunt and no one is getting advanced notice.

Also, in those cases it appears migrants knew where they were going and got to where they requested to go. That does not appear to have happened in MA. And MV couldn’t possibly have been their first choice destination. Boston? Sure, that would be believable. But not MV.

I meant more along the lines that people are now considering pressing charges on both TX and FL.  I don't think there was much talk of pressing charges until now.  It felt like a lot of people just sort of threw up their collective hands before and said "Yup that sucks, but what are you gonna do? Texas is gonna Texas!"  

And to reiterate, I'm glad something is finally being done, I'm just surprised.  

[pixy0stix]

Sept 16, 2022 19:29:16 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

Sept 16, 2022 8:32:25 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

TX has apparently trafficked 8900 people to other parts of the country, at the cost of $12M - www.texastribune.org/2022/08/31/texas-12-million-migrant-busing-program/


How is this legal and why haven't they been arrested?

It's been going on for awhile, and I felt like the TX bussing situation received decent news coverage, so I'm a bit surprised that this is somehow sparking more outrage.  It's absolutely heinous, but I've definitely been caught off guard by the backlash the Florida is receiving after watching the ambivalence over the same thing occurring in Texas.  I sort of assumed that the general public/media decided it wasn't worth paying much attention too.  I'm curious to know why this particular incident seems to have caught people's attention.  Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of the kindness and treatment shown to them in MV?

I'm fairly plugged into the news, and this is the first that I've heard it's actually happening. Previously all that was reported was grandstanding saying, "We're going to do this!"

[cous0226]

I’m in NJ and the Texas to NY buses have been covered locally alot. I assumed it was a known thing but now realizing it wasn’t covered that much nationally. I know Abbott was on Fox News talking about it but that’s really it.

[RitzyHeifer]

Sept 17, 2022 18:38:38 GMT -5 cous0226 said:

I’m in NJ and the Texas to NY buses have been covered locally alot. I assumed it was a known thing but now realizing it wasn’t covered that much nationally. I know Abbott was on Fox News talking about it but that’s really it.

Eh, I’m in the Midwest and heard about bussing migrants to DC on NPR. Not to huge extent but I was at least aware this bullsh*t was happening.
 

[Gato]

Sept 17, 2022 18:38:38 GMT -5 cous0226 said:

I’m in NJ and the Texas to NY buses have been covered locally alot. I assumed it was a known thing but now realizing it wasn’t covered that much nationally. I know Abbott was on Fox News talking about it but that’s really it.

Yeah, this has been going on for a while. In the summer of 2019, Portland, Maine, which is also a sanctuary city, received 300 immigrants bussed from San Antonio, Texas. We desperately needed workers (still do), so long-term this ended up working out well for the state. Their arrival brought about the group Maine Needs, which distributes resources to new immigrants and now many other Mainers in need all across the state. So actually, a lot of good came out of it even if our small city was slightly overburdened for a minute.

I think why Martha's Vineyard is that it's so "East Coast Establishment" and will get more press. Mission accomplished, I guess. But again, if you look beyond the racism of this stunt, New England as a whole needs young people to fill jobs, as so many people here are older and retiring. All immigration is a win for us.

[omgzombies]

Sept 17, 2022 9:42:54 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Sept 16, 2022 19:29:16 GMT -5 omgzombies said:

It's been going on for awhile, and I felt like the TX bussing situation received decent news coverage, so I'm a bit surprised that this is somehow sparking more outrage.  It's absolutely heinous, but I've definitely been caught off guard by the backlash the Florida is receiving after watching the ambivalence over the same thing occurring in Texas.  I sort of assumed that the general public/media decided it wasn't worth paying much attention too.  I'm curious to know why this particular incident seems to have caught people's attention.  Perhaps it was the juxtaposition of the kindness and treatment shown to them in MV?

I'm fairly plugged into the news, and this is the first that I've heard it's actually happening. Previously all that was reported was grandstanding saying, "We're going to do this!"

Hmmm.  Maybe I've heard about it more since they've been bussing them to DC?  So it's more in my area?  But it started up in April, so it's not new.

[AAM2012]

www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article266086211.html


Class action lawsuit filed by 3 of the victims against DeSantis and others.

“The suit, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, alleges that DeSantis, Florida’s Transportation Department secretary and others tricked migrants into leaving Texas by offering them McDonald’s gift cards and other items to board the flights, and by promising them assistance and employment. The lawsuit names five other people as defendants, including a man and woman believed by attorneys to have recruited migrants in San Antonio to board the planes.”