A Texas sheriff on Monday opened an investigation into two flights of migrants sent to Martha’s Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, but did not say what laws may have been broken in putting 48 Venezuelans on private planes last week from San Antonio.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar, an elected Democrat, railed against the flights that took off in his city as political posturing. But he said investigators had so far only spoken to attorneys representing some of the migrants and did not name any potential suspects who might face charges.
He also did not mention DeSantis in a news conference that appeared to mark the first time a law enforcement official has said they would look into the flights.
“I believe there is some criminal activity involved here,” Salazar said. “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.”
DeSantis’ office responded with a statement that said the migrants had been given more options to succeed in Massachusetts.
“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.”
The Venezuelan migrants who were flown to the wealthy Massachusetts island from San Antonio on Wednesday said they were told they were going to Boston. Julio Henriquez, an attorney who met with several migrants, said they “had no idea of where they were going or where they were.”
He said a Latina woman approached migrants at a city-run shelter in San Antonio and put them up at a nearby La Quinta Inn, where she visited daily with food and gift cards. She promised jobs and three months of housing in Washington, New York, Philadelphia and Boston, according to Henriquez.
Salazar said the migrants had been “preyed upon” and “hoodwinked.”
Some Democrats have urged the Justice Department to investigate the flights, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, whose district includes San Antonio.
A federal investigation might be complicated, however. It’s not clear whether anyone boarded buses or planes unwillingly, or that their civil rights were violated. The rights of asylum seekers arriving to the U.S. are also more limited because they are not citizens. The constitution, though, does protect them from discrimination based on race or national origin and from improper treatment by the government.
(AP)
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3 Responses
These poor people were lied to, duped and deceived. The abuse and exploitation of a tzelem Elokim is an unforgivable disgrace. The perpetrators should be investigated and shamed.
rt,
Please post your address so these poor people can move into your house. Or are you just another hypocritical loudmouth?
Obviously nothing more than an election season publicity stunt. Regardless of what you think of DeSantis, you don’t have to be a Constitutional law scholar to recognize that the Sheriff of Baxter County Texas has limited to no jurisdiction over this alleged crime committed by the Governor of Florida. He can join the chorus with the Governor of California who is rapidly sinking his State’s economy and jeopardizing the welfare and safety of his law abiding citizens (that is, the ones without the wherewithal to escape to other states).
By the way, if Sheriff Salazar really believes that migrants entering this country illegally are being lied to before being transported to sanctuary states, why doesn’t he have the guts to go after his own Governor – or is that a political ploy that could really cost him the next time he is up for re-election?