Texas Sheriff opens investigation into plane transport of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard

Texas authorities are investigating Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ transport of two planeloads of asylum seekers to Martha’s Vineyard last week for its potential criminal implications.

“The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into the migrants that were lured from the Migrant Resource Center, located in Bexar County, TX, and flown to Florida, where they were ultimately left to fend for themselves in Martha’s Vineyard, MA,” Sheriff Javier Salazar said in a news release and press conference Monday.

“Additionally, we are working with private attorneys who are representing the victims, as well as advocacy organizations regarding this incident,” he said. “We are also preparing to work with any federal agencies that have concurrent jurisdiction, should the need arise.”

Many of the 50 Venezuelan migrants said they were approached by a woman named Perla who said jobs and assistance awaited them if they agreed to fly to Massachusetts. The promises turned out to be untrue, especially since neither Texas nor Florida officials notified anyone in Massachusetts that they were coming.

They even got brochures that contained the phone number and website of the Massachusetts Office for Refugees and Immigrants, the Bradenton Herald reported Monday. Salazar noted that Texas had plenty of help available for the migrants.

“I believe there is some criminal activity involved here,” Salazar said, without mentioning DeSantis. “But at present we are trying to keep an open mind and we are going to investigate to find out what exact laws were broken if that does turn out to be the case.”

The migrants also said they had been told they were going to Boston.

DeSantis’ office said Massachusetts had offered the migrants more opportunities.

“Immigrants have been more than willing to leave Bexar County after being abandoned, homeless, and ‘left to fend for themselves,” DeSantis spokesperson Taryn Fenske said. “Florida gave them an opportunity to seek greener pastures in a sanctuary jurisdiction that offered greater resources for them, as we expected.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has been busing thousands of migrants to Washington, D.C., New York City and now Chicago for months, including two busloads dropped off near the residence of Vice President Harris last week. DeSantis reportedly financed the cost of chartering the planes, and claimed responsibility.

With News Wire Services