Pelosi on DeSantis's Migrant Flights: Florida Farmers 'Need Them to Pick the Crops Down Here' (September 30, 2022)

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had an argument against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flying migrants north: Florida needs them in the fields. “We have a shortage of workers in our country, and you see even in Florida, some of the farmers and the growers saying, ‘Why are you shipping these immigrants up North? We need them to pick the crops down here,’” Pelosi said at her weekly news conference on Sept. 30, 2022, Fox News reported [1].

“Right now, the best thing that we can do for our economy is comprehensive immigration reform,” she said [1].

Asked whether the southern border was secure, Pelosi said that while “we have a responsibility to secure our border, we also have a responsibility to recognize the importance of newcomers to our nation.” [1]

The video above shows Pelosi’s remarks and the White House briefing that day. Quotes are from Fox News and the official White House transcript [1][2][3].

”The Border Is Secure”

Pelosi did not go as far as the vice president. Weeks earlier, Kamala Harris had said on “Meet the Press”: “The border is secure, but we also have a broken immigration system, in particular, over the last four years before we came in, and it needs to be fixed,” Fox News reported [1].

Pelosi did not repeat that line. She said: “I believe that we have to have a secure border. And I think that we are trying to address… the president has a plan to address that.” [1]

Her remarks came during “a historic border crisis which has seen more than 2.1 million migrant encounters this fiscal year, and more than 200,000 migrant encounters in August alone,” Fox News reported [1].

”Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Has Bussed More Than 10,000”

The flights she referred to were part of a larger Republican push. “Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has bussed more than 10,000 migrants to Washington, D.C., New York City and Chicago, while DeSantis sparked outrage from Democrats when his office flew about 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard,” Fox News reported [1].

Democrats had blasted DeSantis. Fox News reported that he “was blasted by Democrats and former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, who called it a form of ‘human trafficking.’” [3]

“Has Done a Good Job So Far?”

At the White House that day, with Hurricane Ian battering Florida, a reporter asked about DeSantis. “Yesterday, President Biden said that Governor DeSantis, when they spoke, complimented him and praised the immediate response from the federal government. Is that a sentiment that the President returns?” [2]

“So I can’t — I can’t — I can’t speak to the specifics of a private — private conversation,” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. “Again, we don’t want to make this about politics.” [2]

“Right. I’m not asking about politics. I’m just asking if the President thinks that Governor DeSantis has done a good job so far,” the reporter said. “I’m just not going to — look, I haven’t had that conversation with the President,” Jean-Pierre answered [2].

”Why Does He Keep Throwing That Out There?”

Another reporter asked about a meeting with the industry. “There’s apparently a meeting today between the administration and oil executives. Could you tell us a little bit about that? What’s that for?” Jean-Pierre said she did not “have anything to share at this time as to how that meeting went or what’s — what the — what was on the agenda.” [2]

Later, a reporter Jean-Pierre called Jacqui asked about Biden’s attacks on oil companies. “A couple times this week, the President came after oil and gas companies. He threatened again to investigate instances of price gouging. But John Kirby said yesterday that there — he hadn’t seen any evidence of that happening,” the reporter said [2].

“So my question to you is: Why does he keep throwing that out there? And does it have anything to do with the possibility that OPEC will announce a production cut next week, and we might start to see prices come up?” [2]

“So, as you know, we’re not going to speak to OPEC, OPEC+. We are clearly not — not a partner or part of OPEC+,” Jean-Pierre said. “What we’re saying is: We’re just making sure that while we’re — while people are dealing — while we are all dealing with a hurricane, that gas and oil companies don’t take advantage of it.” [2]

A follow-up question asked whether the rhetoric would make relations with the industry worse. “I don’t think so,” Jean-Pierre said. “I think the President thinks that he is standing up for the American people and making sure that oil companies are passing on the savings that they’re getting to consumers.” [2]

By the Numbers

2.1 million+: migrant encounters in fiscal 2022, per Fox News [1].
10,000+: migrants Texas had bused north [1].
About 50: migrants Florida flew to Martha’s Vineyard [1].
49%: Florida voters who supported the flights in a poll, against 44% who did not [3].

What Happened Next

More Florida voters sided with DeSantis. Days later, “The Spectrum News/Sienna College poll found that 49% of likely Florida voters support sending illegal migrants to other states, while 44% do not support the action,” Fox News reported [3].

For the OPEC+ cut that followed, and the White House’s answer, see HYGO News’ page on Oct. 26, 2022. For Jean-Pierre’s answers on Biden calling for the late Rep. Jackie Walorski that week, see the page on Sept. 28, 2022.