Criticized Florida Migrant Relocation Program Seen For the First Time in Arizona

As Florida's Senate race now seems up-for-grabs and political parties make their final moves before November, it seems that every move by a state politician will receive an extra degree of scrutiny in the upcoming weeks. On Friday, for example, reports that Republican Matt Gaetz attended a "drug-fueled" sex party with a minor in 2017 surfaced, putting a dent on his reelection campaign.

Now, Florida authorities are drawing criticism for a controversial migrant relocation program called My Bright Horizon, backed by current governor Ron DeSantis.

The program, funded by a $10 million allocation from Florida's legislature, has transported migrants to various states since its inception in 2022. Critics, including California's Governor Gavin Newsom, have labeled it a political stunt, accusing DeSantis of using vulnerable individuals to advance his agenda.

It now seems like the program is targeting Arizona. Suspicion about My Bright Horizon arose when the brochures surfaced in a migrant shelter in Nogales, Arizona, marking the first time DeSantis's program has been documented in the state, according to The Border Chronicle.

Sobeira Castro, who oversees transport for asylum seekers in Santa Cruz County, expressed concerns about the program's legitimacy when talking to the outlet, emphasizing that it had no connection to local government efforts. Castro described the situation as suspicious, given the lack of transparency surrounding the program's operations.

Public records indicate that My Bright Horizon is run by Access Restoration Services, one of three contractors selected by Florida's Division of Emergency Management to operate the relocation program. Previous efforts involved other companies, including Vertol Systems, which has received over $1.5 million for its involvement in similar flights. Concerns about the program's ethical and legal boundaries persist, as migrants continue to be targeted for these flights, sometimes under false pretenses.

The brochures have since been removed from the shelter, with its administrator expressing concern for the well-being of the migrants.