Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake had a contrarian take for a Republican on the news that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) sent two planes full of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard as part of his state’s plan to relocate migrants to sanctuary cities.
Appearing on “Tucker Carlson Tonight” Wednesday, Lake said that while it’s fun to watch Democratic officials complain that sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago are turning into “unofficial border towns,” illegal immigrants should be deported, not transported into the U.S. at taxpayer expense.
“I actually, I get a kick out of it, watching these liberal mayors just, you know, throw their hands up and say, ‘We can’t handle it,’ because it’s life every day for us in these border states,” Lake told Fox News host Tucker Carlson.
“However, I’m not a fan of it, Tucker,” she added. “I mean, we’re just taking people here illegally who shouldn’t be here. We’re moving them further inland.”
Fox News first reported Wednesday that DeSantis had sent two planes full of migrants to the Massachusetts island of Martha’s Vineyard, a popular summer vacation spot for affluent Americans. DeSantis spokeswoman Taryn Fenske said the migrants were relocated as part of a $12 million program approved by the Florida legislature to remove illegal immigrants from the state.
The actions by DeSantis follow those of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) and Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R), who since April have bused thousands of illegal immigrants to Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C.
Lake, who is running against Democrat Katie Hobbs to succeed Ducey, said that as governor her priority would be to stop migrants and human and drug traffickers from entering Arizona in the first place. She drew a distinction between herself and other Republicans including DeSantis, who campaigned for her in April. Lake’s plan is to declare an “invasion” at the southern border, which she argues would grant Arizona constitutional authority to use National Guard troops to secure the border.
Border-state Republican governors Abbott and Ducey have faced pressure from conservatives to make such a declaration in their respective states, but so far have refused to do so. Immigration attorneys have derided the idea as a political stunt that is sure to face lawsuits and probable defeat at the U.S. Supreme Court, which has previously ruled states cannot set immigration policy. Abbott acknowledged in April that state law enforcement officials who attempt to deport illegal immigrants could be prosecuted under federal law.
There is also debate over whether the border crisis meets the definition of an “invasion.” More than 1 million migrants have been admitted into the U.S. temporarily by President Joe Biden as they apply for asylum, the New York Times reported. Immigrant activists say asylum-seekers presenting themselves at the border are not a hostile, invading force and that constitutional powers meant for use against a foreign army do not apply to the border crisis. Conservatives like Lake argue that violent drug cartels trafficking human beings and deadly drugs like fentanyl over the border need to be treated like foreign invaders to be stopped.
“My plan is the most aggressive plan on the border. We’re going to secure the border. We’re going to call it what it is, issue a declaration of invasion on day one,” Lake told Carlson. “Get troops on the border in the form of our National Guard. We’re going to stop people from coming over. And we’re going to stop the cartels from having control of our border.”
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Arizona Gubernatorial Candidate Kari Lake’s Interview On Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Show(FULL) youtu.be