California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been accused of hypocrisy for harshly criticizing migrant shipments from Texas and Florida, despite earlier taking his own initiative to move homeless people away from San Francisco.
Newsom, a Democrat, engaged in a public war of words with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis after high-profile flights carrying Venezuelan migrants were flown to Martha’s Vineyard last week.
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Newsom called for a criminal investigation into the Florida airlift, calling it an “morally reprehensible” and potentially illegal attempt to “humiliate and dehumanize” the group of about 50 migrants.
DeSantis responded at a news conference, saying Newsom’s “hair gel interferes with his brain function.” Both governors are considered likely contenders for their respective party’s presidential nominations in coming cycles.
Meanwhile, some of Newsom’s critics have pointed out that when he was mayor of San Francisco more than a decade ago, he spearheaded a program that offered free one-way Greyhound tickets.
The initiative, dubbed “Homeward Bound,” was described as Newsom’s “idea” in NPR’s 2006 report, which quoted him as praising the program that helps people “change their lives.”
California Gov. Gavin Newsom (left) has been embroiled in a public war of words with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (right) after high-profile flights carrying Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard last week
In a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Newsom called for a criminal investigation into the Florida Airlift, calling it “morally reprehensible” and potentially illegal
The contrast led some critics to accuse Newsom of double standards, with conservative commentator Rusty Weiss writing in one column: “If shipping people out of the state for a better life is tantamount to ‘kidnapping’, then Newsom has some explaining to do . ‘
In a statement to , Newsom spokeswoman Erin Mellon denied the allegation, writing: “There is no comparison between the two. SF helped people get home to their families. GOP Republicans kidnapped people for political stunt.
“The Republican stunt lied to people about what they would receive and where they were going and didn’t support them, leaving them out on the streets as political pawns,” Mellon added.
According to several reports, many of the migrants on the flights to Martha’s Vineyard were told they were going to Boston and were promised free housing and jobs.
Mellon continued, “Homeward Bound was entirely voluntary and participants signed up to come home to family. They were provided with accommodation while they waited, received financial support for groceries during the journey and worked through to ensure people got home.’
“Republican governors are using vulnerable migrants, including families with children, as political props. Their behavior is outrageous,” she added.
Homeless tents are seen near San Francisco City Hall on August 29, 2022
“This is a ploy used by governors to ingratiate themselves with their campaign donors. Not only is it morally reprehensible, it may also be unlawful.’
Newsom claimed in 2019 that the bulk of San Francisco’s homeless population was from Texas, a claim PolitiFact ruled untrue.
Newsom also took to Twitter on Saturday to challenge DeSantis to a pre-midterm election debate.
“Hey @GovRonDeSantis you are clearly struggling, distracted and busy playing politics with people’s lives,” Newsom tweeted Friday.
“Since you have but one overriding need — attention — let’s take that up and discuss it,” Newsom said in response to a tweet from Dan Rather asking CNN to start a debate between the two governors.
“I’ll bring my hair gel. You bring your hairspray,” he added, referring to DeSantis’ taunt earlier that day that Newsom’s “hair gel disrupts his brain function” when the California governor criticized his actions.
DeSantis defended his actions, claiming the migrants knew exactly where they were going and volunteered to make the trip
PICTURED: A group of 50 migrants enjoyed Venezuelan dishes at the military base after Martha’s Vineyard declared a state of emergency over the group’s arrival
Newsom’s challenge comes as DeSantis continued to defend flying the migrants to Martha’s Vineyard and said his state has a $12 million budget to relocate more immigrants north, CNN reported.
“These are just initial efforts,” DeSantis said at a news conference Friday. “We now have an infrastructure in place. Much more will happen.”
The Florida governor said he could even work with Texas governor Greg Abbott, who has been taking migrants to so-called safe havens like New York and Washington DC since April.
DeSantis accused critics of his move as a “virtue sign” and said their concern for the welfare of migrants was a “fraud”.
He said: “The moment even a small fraction of what these border towns deal with every day is brought to their doorstep, they get angry and they’re so upset that this is happening.”
The Republican also denied claims that the migrants didn’t know where they were being sent, saying his office got them to sign a waiver and provide maps of Martha’s Vineyard.
“It’s obvious where they were headed,” he said. “It’s all voluntary.”