Ron DeSantis allocates $8 million in proposed 'Freedom First Budget' to send illegal immigrants out of the state — and perhaps to Democratic strongholds like Delaware, Martha's Vineyard

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has allocated at least $8 million of his "Freedom First Budget" to send illegal immigrants out of Florida and perhaps into places such as Delaware and Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

In November, DeSantis hit out at President Joe Biden after the administration was said to have covertly flown migrants into the southern state, saying that he'd turn around and put the illegal immigrants on buses to Delaware — Biden's home state.

What are the details?

DeSantis announced this month that he has set aside $8 million in his proposed "Freedom First Budget" for 2022 to contract with private companies to transport illegal immigrants out of Florida.

"In yesterday’s budget, I put in $8 million for us to be able to transport people here illegally out of the state of Florida," DeSantis said of the new budget. "It’s somewhat tongue in cheek, but it is true, if you sent them to Delaware or Martha’s Vineyard or some of these places, that border would be secure the next day."

DeSantis' proposal comes after he signed an executive order that allowed state law enforcement officials to collect any and all information about illegal immigrants purportedly brought into the state by the federal government.

DeSantis also proposed stiff financial penalties for private companies that worked alongside the federal government to bring said illegal immigrants into the state.

“Any private agency that brought illegal immigrants into the state will owe the state restitution,” DeSantis said in the remarks.

A portion of the proposed budget states:

The Freedom First Budget includes $8 million to implement a program to assist the state’s efforts to protect against harms resulting from illegal immigration, and may include the transport of unauthorized aliens located within the state to other states within the United States of America, or the District of Columbia.

The Miami Herald reported on Friday that it remains unclear how DeSantis’ proposal would work.

The proposal awaits action from the Florida legislature, which is on hiatus until January. The legislature would need to approve the funding as well as the details.

During a Friday press conference in Jacksonville, DeSantis said, “You’re having 200,000 people illegally enter every month. That’s a medium-sized American city every month coming in illegally.”