DeSantis hired illegal immigrant and paid him to coordinate migrant flight: Report

Ryan King

October 22, 02:03 PM October 22, 02:04 PM

When Florida flew illegal immigrants from Texas to Democratic strongholds earlier this year, an immigrant from Venezuela who was not allowed to work was reportedly hired to assist.

A man identified as 27-year-old Emmanuel says he was recruited by Vertol Systems Company, a firm that Gov. Ron DeSantis's (R-FL) administration tapped to help administer the flights, the Miami Herald reported.

Emmanuel was apparently hired by Perla Huerta on behalf of Vertol Systems Company, which has been paid roughly $1.5 million to help with the transportation operation. The 27-year-old received three sets of payments of about $700 from Huerta for his work, per the report.

BORDER PATROL TOP OFFICIAL UNDER INTERNAL FIRE FOR BEING UNENGAGED IN POSITION

Emmanuel returned to Texas to cooperate with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office's organized crime unit in its criminal investigation into the operation. He asked to be identified by his first name only due to the high-profile nature of the case.

Under a law that DeSantis touted as Florida's governor, government contractors such as Vertol Systems Company are mandated to deploy the E-Verify system to ensure that workers are legally permitted to work within the United States.

After the report emerged, one of DeSantis's leading critics (and a potential 2024 foe) was quick to pounce.

"In the category of can’t make it up — DeSantis literally hired an undocumented migrant to round up migrants to fly to Martha’s Vineyard. Does that make him a hypocrite … a fraud … or both," DeSantis rival and California Gov. Gavin Newsom said.

DeSantis has been a fervent critic of illegal immigration. Last month, he sent two planes carrying roughly 50 illegal immigrants from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. He defended the gambit, arguing there should be more blame pinned on the Biden administration over the large influx of illegal immigrants pouring through the southern border.

Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) pioneered the transportation of illegal immigrants to Democratic strongholds. His administration has transported over 10,000 immigrants to cities such as New York City, Chicago, and Washington, D.C. Last month, he sent multiple busloads of illegal immigrants outside the home of Vice President Kamala Harris.

Emmanuel is now cooperating with a Bexar County Sheriff’s Office investigation into the Florida operation that flew immigrants to Martha's Vineyard, the news outlet reported. He lacks a work permit and has worked cash jobs in order to make ends meet.

Initially, Emmanuel was paid to give haircuts to some of the immigrants who were stationed in San Antonio awaiting their flight to Martha's Vineyard, and he helped hand out business cards, per the news outlet.

Records indicate that DeSantis's administration had plans to fly immigrants to Delaware and Illinois before scrapping them amid an investigation into the Martha's Vineyard episode, according to the Miami Herald.

The Washington Examiner reached out to a DeSantis spokesperson for comment.