A group representing 30 of the migrants who were flewn to Martha’s Vineyard are demanding criminal investigations by the federal government and the state of Massachusetts.
Lawyers for Civil Rights, who are representing some of the migrants, sent letters to the U.S. attorney for Massachusetts and the attorney general of Massachusetts asking them “to formally open criminal investigations into the political stunt that brought two planeloads of immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard earlier this week,” per a statement on their website.
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In the letter to U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins, the group alleges there were “civil rights violations” with the way the migrants were transported.
“Once the planes landed, those who had induced our clients to travel under these false pretenses disappeared, leaving our clients to learn that the offers of assistance had all been a ruse to exploit them for political purposes. This conduct deprived our clients of their liberty by deception. It interfered with their ability to comply with federal immigration obligations, such as attendance at hearings and check-ins. The perpetrators targeted our clients based on race and national origin in order to make the political point they wanted,” the group said in the letter.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who arranged the flights to Martha’s Vineyard for migrants, doubled down on the strategy Friday, saying he would arrange for transportation to “a whole bunch of other places” in the near future.
DeSantis also dismissed claims the migrants were tricked on to the planes, saying they were given prior notice of their destination.
“The folks that are contracted, not only did they give them a release form to sign, they actually give them a packet, and … that packet included a map of Martha’s Vineyard, so it was obvious that’s where they were going,” DeSantis said.
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DeSantis joined Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s strategy of providing transportation for migrants to sanctuary jurisdictions. Abbott has sent buses to Washington, D.C., New York City, and Chicago.
