Governors’ Trollish Busing of Migrants Reveals Their Lack of Viable Immigration Policy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 15, 2022

CONTACT: 

Elyssa Pachico  | +1 503 347 23 29 | press@alianzaamericas.org 

Myneilles Negron | +1 703 585 6727 | mynellies@communicationsshop.us

On September 14, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent a plane full of mostly Venezuelan migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, while the following day, Texas Governor Greg Abbott sent an additional two busloads of migrants to Washington D.C. By using those fleeing violence and oppression as sadistic theater for winning social media “likes” and stirring up the anti-immigrant political base, this points to the governors’ total lack of viable immigration policy, said Alianza Americas, a coalition of 58 grassroots organizations fighting for equity and human rights in 18 states.

“Provocative trolling is no substitute for real solutions. These are political stunts designed to upset and distract us all from the real challenges we are facing at home and abroad. The vast majority of people in the U.S. see migrants as a positive factor in our nation and are welcoming them warmly,” said Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas. 

Alianza Americas and other partner organizations, headquartered in Chicago, are currently leading a #ChicagoSolidarity fundraiser to support partner groups responding to Abbott’s busing of migrants and asylum seekers to that city. 

“These political stunts by DeSantis and other governors are failing. Volunteers in our city, and across the U.S., are joining together to dedicate our time and resources to welcome those who are in need of protection and support,” said Claudia Lucero, executive director of the Chicago Religious Leadership Network (CRLN), an advocacy group based in Chicago that is helping coordinate the response. 

“We need our elected officials to step up as humanitarian leaders, and show what it means to be a welcoming community,” she added. “As we get closer to the midterms and these cruel stunts escalate, we need our leaders to coordinate across all levels of government and ensure that organizations on-the-ground have the resources needed to respond.”