# Republican “migrants stunt”
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656
**Category:** Politics & Elections
**Created:** [September 16, 2022, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656 "2022-09-16T08:04:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/21 "2022-09-16T11:56:35Z")
> [@Kyomara](#):
>
> do DeSantis et al have any point at all?
Yes, there is a point. The point is that DeSantis and Abbott are giant assholes, marketing themselves to a political base also made up of giant assholes, and they demonstrate their political bona fides by engaging in theatrical acts of cruelty and ostentatious insensitivity which appeal to said asshole base. The entirety of the modern Republican policy platform is “troll the libs.” That’s it.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/22 "2022-09-16T11:59:29Z")
> [@Chefguy](#):
>
> You seem to be okay with that, but I’ve never expected honorable behavior from Texas or Texans.
Hey now…
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### Author:  [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/23 "2022-09-16T12:01:51Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> Hey now…
Sorry about the generalization. Bad experiences in the past.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/24 "2022-09-16T12:16:57Z")
> [@commasense](#):
>
> Why isn’t this a crime, ie, human trafficking?
Last I heard (WRT this case), transporting undocumented people IS human trafficking. I suspect DeSantis (and/or Abbott?) could end up charged with trafficking. If they are, I wonder (hope) it’ll be a charge for each person, including whatever increased charges there are for any minors in the group.
_Note: I saw this yesterday, but can’t find the video and they only places I can find articles on it are on less than reputable sites. Did anyone else run across this?_
I saw something yesterday saying that they were given information on how to update their address to their new state-side address. However, they were [intentionally] given bad information, meaning when immigration sees that they haven’t updated their address within the allotted time frame, they’ll likely be deported.
That means, after DeSantis’ stunt, or rather as an intended part of it, they may end up deported anyway. I’m curious if Cruz or DeSantis or [looks up MA Gov] Baker is planning to take credit for deporting these “illegals” or blame Biden for allowing them into the country just to deport them.
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### Author:  [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/25 "2022-09-16T12:19:37Z")
> [@Kyomara](#):
>
> and do DeSantis et al have any point at all?\*\*
If DeSantis was trying to make a point about classism, it would have been a pretty good stunt. Same as relocating an entire homeless camp from downtown LA to Beverly Hills. _If_ he were trying to say, “Hey rich assholes, you bought these fancy houses so that you wouldn’t have to look at society’s problems, so I’m bringing society’s problems to your doorstep so that you can’t look away,” then I’d have to tip my hat to him (lying to immigrants and trafficking them notwithstanding).
But that’s not the point he was trying to make. He was trying to point out liberal hypocrisy, and it backfired.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/26 "2022-09-16T12:39:39Z")
> [@JohnT](#):
>
> but “NYC, Boston, and Chicago don’t know what it’s like to have immigrants” is a real burner even in this environment.
I read today that 40% of NYC residents were born outside of the US.
> [@mbh](#):
>
> New York and DC ostentatiously proclaimed themselves to be Sanctuary Cities. El Paso and Eagle Pass did not. What’s wrong with making the Sanctuaries put their money where their mouths are?
I read your post three times now and I still can’t find Martha’s Vineyard in it. Care to clarify?
> [@Crafter\_Man](#):
>
> If it’s a Sanctuary City, then they should welcome them, regardless of anything else.
I think they were welcomed. Is Martha’s Vineyard a sanctuary city?
Anyway, I don’t understand (I do understand…) why the nice Texas and Florida officials had to lie their ass off to get people on the plane. I just love that the Texas and Florida governors are just proud to be trolls, and people who vote for them seem to be doing it for the cruelty and to troll the libs. Great political party! So many excellent policies that they don’t need to distract their constituents with bullshit political stunts.
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### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/27 "2022-09-16T12:49:02Z")
Apparently when the buses stop for gas, a lot of the passengers get off and walk away, and nobody stops them, so they’re actually distributing “illegals” widely across the entire South.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/28 "2022-09-16T12:51:22Z")
> [@DCnDC](#):
>
> so they’re actually distributing “illegals” widely across the entire South.
As long as they can troll the libs, I don’t think they care.
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### Author:  [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/29 "2022-09-16T13:01:50Z")
And they’re gonna blame Biden for that.
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### Author:  [@tofor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tofor)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/30 "2022-09-16T13:11:29Z")
> [@RitterSport](#):
>
> Anyway, I don’t understand (I do understand…) why the nice Texas and Florida officials had to lie their ass off to get people on the plane.
I did not see this in the articles I read. Cite?
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/31 "2022-09-16T13:15:45Z")
First [cite](https://www.businessinsider.com/migrants-desantis-put-on-marthas-vineyard-told-boston-was-destination-2022-9) I found. Lots out there.
Quote:
> The migrants said, per NPR, that a woman they identified as “Perla” lured them from a shelter in San Antonio into boarding a plane with promises of expedited work permits in Boston.
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### Author:  [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/32 "2022-09-16T13:27:16Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#):
>
> Last I heard (WRT this case), transporting undocumented people IS human trafficking.
Whether or not it’s human trafficking, it definitely appears to be a crime.
[8 USC 1324: Bringing in and harboring certain aliens](https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title8-section1324&num=0&edition=prelim), subsection ii:
Any person who “(ii) knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that an alien has come to, entered, or remains in the United States in violation of law, transports, or moves or attempts to transport or move such alien within the United States by means of transportation or otherwise, in furtherance of such violation of law”
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### Author:  [@Babale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Babale)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/33 "2022-09-16T13:33:20Z")
> [@commasense](#):
>
> Why isn’t this a crime, ie, human trafficking?
When the presi - er, I mean, GOVERNOR does it, it’s not illegal.
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### Author:  [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/34 "2022-09-16T14:09:33Z")
I think part of this is the notion that the good Christians of Texas and Florida are somehow being victimized by this flood of immigrants, and that there’s all these heathens in California and Massachusetts and wherever who are saying we ought to treat the immigrants more nicely - so let’s send them over and see whether the heathens are still whistling the same tune, huh?
Well, I’ve got something to say to the good Christians of Texas and Florida: why don’t you just rip Deuteronomy out of your Bibles right now, okay? Because Deuteronomy really pounds it in, over and over again, that you’re supposed to be charitable to aliens (and orphans and widows, but they’re not the issue here).
So if you’re more concerned with owning the libs of Massachusetts than doing what the Bible says, then go ahead and rip Deuteronomy right out of your fucking Bibles whose words you only care about when they back up your prejudices. If one of the Old Testament prophets were alive today, he’d grab your Bible from you and do it for you and save you the trouble.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/35 "2022-09-16T14:13:58Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#):
>
> So if you’re more concerned with owning the libs of Massachusetts than doing what the Bible says, then go ahead and rip Deuteronomy right out of your fucking Bibles whose words you only care about when they back up your prejudices.
This is MAGA morality in a nutshell. Damned by their own standards, they literally could not give a shit.
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### Author:  [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/36 "2022-09-16T14:14:50Z")
In August, 9 people (that we know about) drowned in 1 day trying to cross the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass.
The “compassionate” people enabled that, and encouraged that.
In June, 50 people died of heat exhaustion after a smuggler abandoned them in a locked truck near San Antonio.
The “compassionate” people enabled that, and encouraged that.
When parents send their daughters northward, they give them morning-after pills, because most of them will be raped by the smugglers, long before the get to the U.S. border.
The “compassionate” people enable that, and encourage that.
Every day, 100 Americans die, poisoned by fentanyl, brought over the border by the smugglers.
The “compassionate” people enable that, and encourage that.
.
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### Author:  [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/37 "2022-09-16T14:16:21Z")
… is this the Pit?
Damn.
Well, fuck it: MAGA killed over a million Americans because of a hissy-fit regarding mask wearing. Those worthless shits do not get to lecture morality at us, at anyone.
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### Author:  [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/38 "2022-09-16T14:16:34Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#):
>
> If it’s a Sanctuary City, then they should welcome them, regardless of anything else.
Can’t speak for other locations, but Chicago seems to be doing exactly that. There are some logistical problems when a lot of people show up unannounced, but they’re being given shelter, food, water, medical care, and otherwise assisted. Chicago would _like_ to know when, how many, and where they will be dropped off to facilitate assisting them, but there’s no talk of sending them back or building a wall. Despite Chicago having a crapload of its own problems to deal with.
What is concerning to those of us who care about human beings is that
1. these people have often been lied to about their destination
2. they are provided with no food or water during their journey, which takes considerable time
3. people who need medication, such as diabetics, report that they have none, have been separated from their own supplies, or otherwise impeded from taking care of their health
4. no diapers for infants, menstrual products for those who need them, etc.
Most of these folks report that they were happy to take the free trip out of Texas, although a few expressed frustration that they would have preferred to go to where they already had family in this country and instead wound up thousands of miles away. However, for some who had walked on foot from places like Venezuela sorting that out is not seen as an insurmountable obstacle, just a relatively minor annoyance.
So the complaints are not that these people are being sent to various cities, but rather their treatment BEFORE they arrive, particularly being lied to and being denied such human basics as food, water, and needed medication which, in some instances they had with them but was (allegedly) confiscated in Texas. Which, I am hoping, we can agree is unacceptable if true.
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/39 "2022-09-16T14:20:00Z")
How did the “compassionate people” encourage those things? People who want more legal immigration aren’t responsible because people who want less of it drive it underground. I mean, WTF?
Also, please provide a cite for this claim:
> [@mbh](#):
>
> poisoned by fentanyl, brought over the border by the smugglers.
> The “compassionate” people enable that, and encourage that.
And, what do drug smugglers have to do with people seeking asylum??
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### Author:  [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)
#### Post date: [September 16, 2022, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/republican-migrants-stunt/971656/40 "2022-09-16T14:22:00Z")
> [@Broomstick](#):
>
> we can agree is unacceptable if true.
I don’t know, did it troll the libs? Then, it’s acceptable to DeathSantis and Abbott.
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