Biden’s home state Delaware prepares for migrant flights

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• The White House said that Delaware officials are preparing for potential flights that could drop off migrants to President Biden’s home state.
• Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called out Florida Gov. DeSantis for “creating political theater” instead of “creating a solution.”
• When asked about the flight, Biden invited DeSantis to “come visit” his state for the “beautiful shoreline.”

The White House confirmed knowledge of possible migrant flights headed to President Biden’s home state of Delaware, and said that local officials are already making preparations.

At Tuesday’s White House briefing, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Delaware officials are preparing for any private planes that may land near Biden’s vacation home in Rehoboth Beach.

Jean-Pierre stated, “We have received word of the flights, and we are coordinating closely with state officials and local service providers who are prepared to welcome these families in an orderly manner, as they pursue their asylum claims.”

The statements came after the recent transportation of migrants launched by two Republican governors, Greg Abbott of Texas and Ron DeSantis of Florida, to Democrat-led cities.

Last week, migrants were dropped off by bus outside Vice President Kamala Harris’ home in Washington, D.C., and by plane to the island of Martha’s Vineyard off Massachusetts.

The Biden administration was apparently given a heads up that one of the planes used was scheduled for a trip to Delaware on Tuesday. Jean-Pierre stated that the tip did not come from DeSantis.

The press secretary called out the Florida governor’s actions, saying that his goal “is to create chaos and use immigrants fleeing communism as political pawns. It’s about creating political theater for him, it’s not about creating a solution.”

When asked if the White House plans to reach out for talks with Abbott or DeSantis, Jean-Pierre responded, “There’s no understanding to be reached.”

She said that the governors should at least call on their states’ senators to provide additional funding and comprehensive immigration reform.

When Biden was asked about the flight to Delaware on Tuesday, he invited DeSantis to “come visit, we have a beautiful shoreline.”

On Tuesday, Delaware Gov. John Carney’s spokesperson stated that the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and Delaware Department of Health and Social Services “are working with community organizations and other partners to make sure that migrants who arrive here have the support that they need.”

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar recently declared that his office will be launching a criminal investigation on DeSantis’s operation.

Salazar claimed that the 48 Venezuelan migrants were already in San Antonio legally before DeSantis “preyed upon” them and “lured” them with “promises of a better life.” He said that the Florida governor “exploited and hoodwinked” the migrants for “political posturing.”

DeSantis refuted Salazar’s allegations. Speaking to Fox News‘ Sean Hannity on Monday night, he said that the migrants “all signed consent forms to go,” which meant that the flights were “clearly voluntary.”

His actions were also defended by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who “personally thought” the flight operation to be “a good idea.”

Source: Yahoo! News