Volunteers and organizers inside Sacramento’s Trinity Episcopal Cathedral named Republican politician on the same day Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration took responsibility for sending dozens of migrants seeking asylum to California refused to do so.

Instead, they wanted to talk about the 36 men and women they cared for this week, but in what California officials call a political stunt, they were left exhausted, disoriented and disoriented on the doorstep of a local church. It is said that he was left behind while feeling fear.

Gaby Trejo, executive director of Sacramento Area Congregation Together, said the immigrants she took to church on Sunday, some of whom had walked thousands of miles from Venezuela to the United States over several months. reached into his pocket and offered $1. for collection plates.

“I said, no, you guys need it more than our church today. But they didn’t care. They still have it on the plate,” Trejo said. Told. “In that moment, our new neighbors showed us what it means to be able to contribute to our community as well.”

Cecilia Flores, who has been helping migrants since the first group flew in on Friday, wiped away tears at a news conference on Tuesday.

Most immigrants in their 20s and 30s are the first in their families to come to the United States and are keen to work, she said. Some are married. One of them brought a dog named Gico.

They become timid when she asks simple questions such as what she wants for dinner. Anything, they always say.

“It’s been years since I could choose my own clothes,” one man who was taken to a thrift store by volunteers told Flores, organizer of the Sacramento ACT. Until then, he relied on the clothes he was given.

The identities of the immigrants, who also came from countries such as Colombia and Guatemala, have not been released as the California Department of Justice investigates the case. Meanwhile, Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom has threatened conservative presidential candidate DeSantis with kidnapping charges.

Organizers said Tuesday that the migrants had arrived at the Texas border, were greeted by people claiming to be part of the migration program, and were promised housing and jobs. They were then shuttled to New Mexico and flown to Sacramento on a charter plane.

DeSantis representatives — who flew immigrants to liberal Martha’s Vineyard In a statement against last year’s progressive immigration policy, a group from Sacramento announced Tuesday that they had agreed to go to California.

Alecia Collins, a spokeswoman for the Florida Emergency Management Agency, called the flight a “voluntary move.” She assured me that the contractor had arrived safely, she said.

The statement also included a video showing a dozen people signing documents and sitting on a private plane. A person is then seen saying that they have arrived in California. The video includes footage of people smiling and dancing, and one man tells of his own experience migrating through Central America.

People working with them on the ground in Sacramento said they had no idea where they were going. Their “American Dream” quickly turned into a “nightmare,” said Trejo, who said they had been duped.

City and county officials, as well as local church leaders and nonprofits, are scrambling to help them.

With the help of donations and volunteers, faith-based organizations such as the Sacramento ACT and PICO California secured immigrants temporary housing, clothing, food, cell phones, and duffel bags to hold new belongings.

They are rushing to connect them with lawyers so they can plan future immigration hearings. The county sent a nurse to check. Volunteers have also reached out to mental health counselors, dentists and hairdressers, as some have not had their hair cut in months.

Rebellious Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, a Democrat and former state Senate leader, has portrayed a brutal political maneuver that has failed. He said immigrants are welcome here even though the city is facing a homeless crisis.

He said the migrants were safe, “well looked after” and “well”.

“I don’t want to talk about who did this or who likely did it. They, he’s not worthy of dignity,” Steinberg said. “If this is trying to send a message, I guess you could say, ‘I got the message.’ Yes, we are going to welcome people.”

Mr. Steinberg said his goal was to make Sacramento’s mission apolitical, but Mr. Newsom didn’t avoid single-mindedly denouncing Mr. DeSantis.

“So who is ultimately accountable? I mean, Ron DeSantis and the games he plays should stop paying.” Newsom told NBC’s “Today” program in an interview Tuesday. “But it is the people on the front lines who have done the dirty work.

In a statement in response to a video from DeSantis’ team, PICO California said it will continue to shield immigrants from the media to avoid engaging them in the “political theatre.” On Tuesday, church volunteers read out statements written or voice-recorded by some migrants to protect their identities.

“I could never have imagined what happened in the last few days. There have been many difficult moments on my trip, but thank God. I hope to have a good life here, but were welcomed with open arms,” wrote one woman. “I want to work and serve. We are here to help.”

Los Angeles Times staff writer Melanie Mason contributed to this report.