California Governor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, asked the Justice Department on Thursday to open an investigation into "possible criminal or civil violations" for Florida sending migrants to Martha's Vineyard "for political purposes."
"Clearly, transporting families, including children, across states under false pretenses is morally reprehensible, but it may also be illegal," he said in a letter condemning the use of children "as political pawns."
"I urge the Department of Justice to investigate whether the alleged fraudulent inducement could support kidnapping charges under applicable state law," Newsom said in his letter.
The Governor of Florida, Republican Ron DeSantis, on Wednesday assumed responsibility for sending two planes with some 50 migrants who began the day in San Antonio, Texas, after crossing the border and were transferred to the island of Martha's Vineyard, a popular destination for wealthy families in Massachusetts.
DeSantis's spokeswoman, Taryn Fenske, said this shipment is "part of the state's relocation program to transport [asylum seekers crossing the border] to places of sanctuary."
DeSantis thus joined an initiative started in April by fellow Republican Greg Abbot, Governor of Texas, and later joined by Doug Ducey, Republican Governor of Arizona, to send thousands of asylum seekers by bus from border towns to the Democratic-governed cities of Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C.
This Thursday, in addition, Abbott sent two buses with immigrants to the residence of the vice president, Kamala Harris, in Washington.
Newsom alleges in his letter that several of the migrants sent to the island of Massachusetts were deceived that they would be taken to Boston and quickly granted a work permit.
Massachusetts authorities confirmed the arrival of the migrants, who include families with children mostly from Venezuela, and praised the response of the local community.
Democratic state senator Julian Cyr said authorities and volunteers "moved heaven and earth to respond the same way you would in a hurricane," providing food, clothing and coronavirus tests to new arrivals.
According to NBC Boston, the island also prepared emergency shelters.