S.F. Chronicle Quotes Dean Johnson About Governors Sending Migrants to Other States

Dean Kevin R. Johnson spoke to the San Francisco Chronicle for a Sept. 15 story about Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott sending busloads and planeloads of migrants to other states.

 “The Texas and Florida publicity stunts in their most favorable light are designed to bring attention to the issue of migration, not create a comprehensive state immigration policy,” Johnson said. But they likely are not illegal “as long as the trips are voluntary,” Johnson said.

Gov. Gavin Newsom has requested the U.S. Department of Justice begin an investigation into whether DeSantis and Abbott have violated federal kidnapping or fraud laws by moving migrants to other states. Some people sent to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., by Florida officials last week reportedly said they were misled about where they were going.

Kevin R. Johnson is the law school’s dean, Mabie-Apallas Professor of Public Interest Law and professor of Chicana/o studies at UC Davis. He is an internationally recognized scholar in the fields of immigration law and policy, refugee law, and civil rights.