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Second plane carrying migrants arrives in California California investigating whether Florida sent migrant flights
(about 8 hours later)
Hard-line Republican governors have transported migrants to Democratic-controlled states since last year Some Republican governors have transported migrants to Democratic-controlled states
A second plane carrying migrants has arrived in California's capital city, just days after a first group of 16 migrants landed there on a charter plane that took off from New Mexico. California is investigating whether the state of Florida arranged for two planes carrying migrants to fly to its capital city Sacramento.
On Monday, a group of around 20 people landed in Sacramento, officials say. California's attorney general, a Democrat, said the flights appeared to be part of a "scheme" by Florida.
Documents in their possession suggested the migrants were transported by a contractor for a Florida government programme. Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has not commented and neither have any officials from the state.
California officials are investigating whether any laws were broken. Last year, the presidential candidate sent two planes carrying migrants to a wealthy area of Massachusetts.
The first group of migrants, from Colombia and Venezuela, were dropped off outside a Sacramento church on Friday. At the time, Mr DeSantis said the move was intended to highlight a crisis at the southern border with Mexico. It was criticised by Democrats as well as immigration activists.
California state leaders have said the migrants may have been misled with "false promises" or even kidnapped. On Monday, a group of around 20 people landed in Sacramento. Just days earlier, an initial group of 16 migrants arrived in the city.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has not commented on either flight. Nor have any other officials from the state. Documents in their possession suggested they had been transported by a contractor for a Florida government programme. Californian officials are investigating whether any laws were broken and if the people were misled.
Gavin Newsom, California's governor, went on Twitter on Monday afternoon and called Mr DeSantis a "small, pathetic man", including a screenshot of a California legal code section on kidnapping. Gavin Newsom, California's Democratic governor, hit out at Mr DeSantis on Monday calling him a "small, pathetic man". In the tweet, he included a screenshot of a California legal code section on kidnapping.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office said the first group had been transported from Texas to New Mexico, flown in a private chartered jet to Sacramento and driven to the Roman Catholic Diocese, a local church. "We are investigating whether those orchestrating the group's trip misled anyone or violated laws," he said
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the first group had been transported from Texas to New Mexico, flown in a private chartered jet to Sacramento and driven to the Roman Catholic Diocese, a local church.
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Paperwork they shared with authorities indicated they were participating in the migrant transportation system administered by Florida's Division of Emergency Management and run by Florida-based contractor Vertol Systems Company Inc.Paperwork they shared with authorities indicated they were participating in the migrant transportation system administered by Florida's Division of Emergency Management and run by Florida-based contractor Vertol Systems Company Inc.
The second group was carrying similar documents and flew to California from the same airport in New Mexico as the first group. The second group was carrying similar documents and flew to California from the same airport as the first group.
Sacramento County spokeswoman Kim Nava told US media the second group contained men and women between the ages of 18 and 40.
She said government officials made contact with them and gave them food and water before transporting them to a religious institution that she declined to identify.
Wilkendri Rodriguez, a 23-year-old migrant from Venezuela, told the New York Times that two men had approached him at a shelter in El Paso and offered him a flight to California.Wilkendri Rodriguez, a 23-year-old migrant from Venezuela, told the New York Times that two men had approached him at a shelter in El Paso and offered him a flight to California.
"I don't know what is their motivation to organize these trips," he told the newspaper. "I don't know if it's political or part of the government. They didn't tell us anything." "I don't know what is their motivation to organise these trips," he told the newspaper. "I don't know if it's political or part of the government. They didn't tell us anything."
Stephen Thompson, the owner of a flight school at the airport where the migrant flight arrived on Monday, told BBC News that he witnessed the group exiting the plane carrying knapsacks and plastic bags. Florida and at least two other Republican-controlled states have sent busloads of migrants, often with no advance warning, to Democratic-run cities in protest against President Joe Biden's border policies. It comes amid a sharp rise in migrant arrivals at the southern border.
Around lunchtime, he ordered a pizza delivery for the migrant group.
Since last year, Florida and at least two other Republican-controlled states have sent busloads of migrants, often with no advance warning, to Democratic-run cities in protest against President Joe Biden's border policies. It comes amid an influx of migrants at the southern US border.
Vertol, which has ties to Florida's Mr DeSantis, was paid more than $1.6m (£1.3m) last year for at least two migrant flights, including to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.Vertol, which has ties to Florida's Mr DeSantis, was paid more than $1.6m (£1.3m) last year for at least two migrant flights, including to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.
Mr DeSantis is contesting for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He will be holding a fundraiser in Sacramento for his campaign later this month.Mr DeSantis is contesting for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. He will be holding a fundraiser in Sacramento for his campaign later this month.
PICO California and Sacramento ACT, two faith-based volunteer groups that are helping the South Americans, told US media the first group was approached outside a migrant centre in the Texas border city of El Paso by people who offered them jobs and other support. Watch: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis
They were dropped off at the church's doorstep not knowing where they were and with only a backpack's worth of personal belongings each, the groups said. Watch: Five things to know about Ron DeSantis
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Mr Newsom said in a statement on Saturday that he and Mr Bonta had personally met the group.
He vowed to ensure they were "treated with respect and dignity, and get to their intended destination as they pursue their immigration cases".
"We are investigating whether those orchestrating the group's trip misled anyone or violated laws," he added.
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