DeSantis class action alleges governor flew migrants to Martha’s Vineyard without food, shelter

DeSantis Martha’s Vineyard class action lawsuit overview: 

• Who: A class action lawsuit has been filed against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on behalf of around 50 Venezuelan migrants. 
• Why: DeSantis is accused of tricking the migrants into being transported from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha’s Vineyard with no resources or shelter in place for upon their arrival. 
• Where: The class action lawsuit was filed in Massachusetts federal court. 

A group of around 50 Venezuelan migrants recently transported by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis from San Antonio, Texas, to Martha’s Vineyard have had a class action lawsuit filed on their behalf against the Republican leader. 

DeSantis transported the group of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard without any resources or shelter ready in place for them upon their arrival to the Massachusetts island, NPR reports. 

“These immigrants, who are pursuing the proper channels for lawful immigration status in the United States, experienced cruelty akin to what they fled in their home country,” the DeSantis class action states. 

The class action lawsuit, which is headed by civil rights firm Lawyers for Civil Rights in conjunction with migrant-led nonprofit Alianza Americas, also names the state of Florida, Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Purdue and their alleged accomplices as defendants. 

DeSantis is accused of flying the group of migrants through Florida to Martha’s Vineyard without warning the local community they were arriving while the group was allegedly told they would be given a chance at a better life. 

DeSantis Martha’s Vineyard class action alleges governor lured migrants with $10 McDonald’s gift certificates

The governor and the other defendants provided items such as $10 McDonald’s gift certificates to migrants to gain their trust and “induce unwitting cooperation” with their scheme, the DeSantis class action alleges. 

“Defendants and their unidentified accomplices designed and executed a premeditated, fraudulent, and illegal scheme centered on exploiting this vulnerability for the sole purpose of advancing their own personal, financial and political interests,” the DeSantis class action states. 

DeSantis reportedly called backlash to the event — including a criminal investigation opened by the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office — an overreaction, NPR reports. 

A separate class action lawsuit was filed against DeSantis along with the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity last year by 10 Florida residents claiming they were deprived of real and personal rights by being cut off from federal unemployment benefits prematurely. 

Do you believe DeSantis violated the migrants rights by sending them to Martha’s Vineyard? Let us know in the comments! 

The plaintiffs are represented by Oren Sellstrom, Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, Jacob Love, and Mirian Albert of Lawyers for Civil Rights. 

The DeSantis Martha’s Vineyard class action lawsuit is Alianza Americas, et al. v. Ronald DeSantis, et al., Case No. 1:22-cv-11550, in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 

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