GEORGETOWN, Del. — Officials with the White House and Delaware governor’s office on Tuesday readied for the potential arrival of migrants flown from Texas to President Joe Biden’s home state.
The flights are believed to be facilitated by Florida GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis, who last week transported about 50 mostly Venezuelan migrants from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha’s Vineyard, an elite vacation spot in Massachusetts with a short stopover in Florida.
“We have received word of the flights, and yes 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,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Tuesday.
She did not provide specifics on how the White House received word on the flights, saying only that “our heads-up did not come from Gov. DeSantis,” accusing him of attempting “to create chaos.”
Emily David Hershman, a spokesperson for Delaware Gov. John Carney, a Democrat, said in a statement that the state’s emergency management agency and department of health and social services are working with community organizers to provide services for the migrants they anticipate will arrive.
“We are coordinating with Federal officials and are prepared to welcome these families in an orderly manner as they pursue their asylum claims,” she said.
DeSantis, during a press conference in Bradenton, Fla., on Tuesday said he “cannot confirm” information on a flight transporting migrants to Delaware.
The Florida governor’s move comes as Democrats and others have expressed outrage over the flight DeSantis sent to Martha’s Vineyard last week. Some Democrats, including California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, have called on federal authorities to investigate DeSantis.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, also has for months bused migrants from the southern border to Chicago, New York City and Washington, D.C.
“I can’t imagine how disorienting this will be,” said Jill Marie Bussey, director for public policy at Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, who was at the Delaware Coastal Airport on Tuesday to greet the migrants.
Kelly Garrity contributed to this report.
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