A federal judge in Boston has ruled that nearly 50 migrants who were transported from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 in flights arranged by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis can move forward with a lawsuit against the company that dropped them off. The migrants and residents of the Massachusetts island were surprised by the destination, according to the lawsuit.
Three Venezuelan migrants and immigrant rights group Alianza Americas filed the suit alleging DeSantis, members of his administration, and Vertol Systems Company, a Florida-based aviation transport company, misguided migrants and transported them in what the rights group calls an “uncivilized, fraudulent, civil-rights conspiracy targeting LatinX immigrants.”
The migrants, identified as Yanet, Pablo, and Jesus in the lawsuit, claim they were initially told they would be flown to “a city in the Northeast” and promised stable housing, work, educational resources, and help in their immigration proceedings. Some plaintiffs signed a transport consent form that identified Massachusetts as the final destination, but they were only informed they were going to Martha’s Vineyard shortly before landing.
Republican governors, including DeSantis, have been redirecting migrants to liberal cities in protest of the federal government's handling of the migrant crisis. DeSantis had publicly discussed plans to move migrants from the US-Mexico border to create challenges for Democratic leaders.
US District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled that the migrants can proceed with most claims against Vertol Systems but dismissed claims against DeSantis and other officials due to jurisdictional concerns. The judge left the option open for the plaintiffs to refile their claims in another court.
DeSantis’ office stated that the flights were lawful and authorized by the Florida Legislature, emphasizing that the migrants signed consent forms and were not misled about their destination. The migrants were provided temporary housing and support services upon arrival at Martha’s Vineyard.
Lawyers for Civil Rights, representing the migrants, hailed the ruling as a victory, emphasizing that private companies can be held accountable for assisting state actors in violating immigrants' rights through illegal schemes.
Despite the unexpected arrivals, Martha’s Vineyard residents and activists quickly mobilized to support the migrants, offering shelter, meals, and access to healthcare. Alianza Americas reaffirmed their commitment to advocating for the dignity and justice of all migrants affected by the ongoing crisis.
Next steps for the migrants include seeking jurisdictional discovery to pursue claims against DeSantis and other alleged conspirators involved in the case.
