In September 2022, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a likely contender for the 2024 Republican presidential ticket flew migrants under the umbrella of a new program he started from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.  Martha's Vineyard, long a playground for the well-off in the Northeast was seen as a target by DeSantis and others who wanted to mock the "liberal elite" and their less than restrictive policies on immigration law and refugee rights.Joseph Lackey is an award winning Miami based immigration and criminal defense lawyer who was cited in an article about these events written by Marc Caputo and published on NBC News on September 19, 2022.

In this episode we discuss;

1) Florida state politics and how Governor DeSantis fits into that landscape;2) The hypocrisy  of not allowing sanctuary cities while supporting that state and local locales get to decide which refugees or immigrants can come or stay;3) How Gov De Santis may be the Republican Presidential nominee in 2024;4) The confusion among the population between the undocumented or those here "illegally" and asylum or refugee seekers like those at Martha's Vineyard;5) The correction of those misconceptions by even some conservative pundits like Bill Kristol about the status of asylees and refugees or those seeking protection under those sections of US law;6) What the US law requires to obtain asylum or refugee status;7) What crimes Gov. De Santis could be charged with potentially under state and federal law for trafficking;8) What relief apart from asylum in the form of U or T visas the asylees and refugees may be eligible for due to their being transported under false pretenses;9) The dehumanization of migrants by the Republican parties loudest voices continues.  Who can take back the party?

JESSICA SMITH BOBADILLA (HOST)

Jessica Smith Bobadilla is an immigration attorney, law professor and media commentator  with twenty years experience.  She can be reached through the podcast at [email protected] or by visiting her lawfirm website at http://www.attorneyjessica.com.

JOSEPH LACKEY (GUEST) 

Joseph Lackey is an experienced immigration and criminal defense attorney in Miami, Florida.  He is a media commentator and has also lectured at conferences nationally and internationally on diverse topics. Joe was asked to comment on the Martha's Vineyard crisis in September for NBC News.  The article is linked below.  You can reach Joe through his practice website at http://www.josephlackey.com.  

Article in Which Guest Joe Lackey is cited:  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/migrants-landed-marthas-vineyard-tricked-misleading-brochure-lawyers-s-rcna48390