FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 15, 2022
Contact: Krizia López Arce, Chispa Florida | 407-509-0860 | krizia@fcvoters.org
Statement of the Chispa Florida Organizing Program, regarding Governor DeSantis, chartered private planes to drop migrants at Martha’s Vineyard
Kissimmee, FL– As a climate and racial justice organizing program, Chispa Florida recognizes that people migrate under different circumstances, and all too often, the drastic forces of climate change cause widespread harm and displacement of communities.
Regardless of status, all people deserve the right to a safe and stable home for themselves and their families. It is already traumatic enough to leave your country and family to seek a better future and life and still suffer this kind of tragic abuse. Governor DeSantis claims to have spent 12 million taxpayer dollars to fly migrants from Florida to Martha’s Vineyard, a deplorable act on human and civil rights. These immigrants were transported under deception, were freed and waiting for asylum hearings or were in the asylum request process. People are not only seeking political asylum; most of them are climate refugees too.
Our allies from the Florida Immigrant Coalition, after learning that two flights full of asylum seekers from various countries were sent by the DeSantis-Nuñez administration from Florida to Martha’s Vineyard at the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, are outraged. Tomorrow, September 16, 2022, they will hold a press conference with immigrants and faith leaders at 10:00 a.m. at the Iglesia Episcopal Jesus de Nazaret (26 Willow Dr. Orlando, FL 32807)
We need a local, state, and federal government that treats immigrants with the dignity and compassion that all people deserve and does not use them as a political publicity tool and stunt during an election season. We need inclusive and humane policies that provide shelter and stability for immigrants and climate refugees. Immigrants deserve to feel safe.
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