A small number of immigrants sent to Martha’s Vineyard 18 months ago by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis are now allowed to work legally in the United States because they are considered victims of crime. , their lawyer said.
The migrants claimed they were tricked into boarding a chartered flight from San Antonio, Texas, to an upscale liberal enclave in Massachusetts under false promises last year, claiming they were tricked into boarding a chartered flight from San Antonio, Texas, to an upscale liberal enclave in Massachusetts, seeking special visas designated for crime victims (known as U visas). ). About work and housing.
At least three of the 49 immigrants involved in the DeSantis-led flight operation in September 2022 received “good faith decisions” on their U visa applications this week, immigration attorney Rachel Self said. boston globe.
This means they can find work and not be deported while waiting for a visa, Self added.
Approval of a U visa often also leads to permanent legal status in the country.
The incident comes after DeSantis took credit for two taxpayer-funded migrant flights that landed on Martha’s Vineyard after a brief pit stop in the Sunshine State, according to the sheriff of Bexar County, Texas. This happened after the company launched a criminal investigation at the end of 2022.
At the time, Democratic-elected Sheriff Javier Salazar blasted the plane, which initially took off in his city, saying the immigrants were “exploited and tricked into making this trip” as part of a political agenda. Therefore, he claimed to be the victim of a crime. Stunt.
DeSantis, meanwhile, insisted the migrants boarded the plane “voluntarily.”
“Immigrants are willing to leave Bexar County after being abandoned, homeless and left ‘to fend for themselves,’” a representative for DeSantis said at the time.
“Florida has given them the opportunity to seek greener pastures within protected areas that provide them with more resources, just as we had hoped.”
Still, the immigrants were able to apply for U visas after the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office confirmed they were cooperating with law enforcement in the investigation.
According to the paper, U visas are specifically reserved for “victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and can assist law enforcement and government officials in investigating and prosecuting criminal activity.” US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Congress only authorizes the federal government to issue 10,000 U visas per year.
“This verdict brings us one step closer to justice,” said Self, the immigration attorney. “[They] To further emphasize, no one knowing all the facts can ignore the criminality of the actors. ”
Meanwhile, there have been no updates on the Bexar County investigation since last year. This is despite the sheriff’s office recommending that the local district attorney file felony and misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint against those who operated the flight.
The Bexar County Attorney’s Office has not announced any such charges.
“The Bexar County Attorney’s Office’s inaction in this matter is alarming and cannot be taken lightly,” Self said. “This is a cricket from the DA’s office. Why?”
Separately, a federal judge in Boston ruled earlier this month that migrants on Martha’s Vineyard can sue Bartle Systems, the Florida-based charter airline that transported them to Martha’s Vineyard. It was decided that
The court held that “unlike ICE officers who lawfully enforce the nation’s immigration laws, there is a legitimate purpose to round up highly vulnerable people under false pretenses and publicly insert them into a divisive debate.” is not recognized,” he said.
The decision also found that the facts of the case “taken together support the inference that Mr. Bartle and the other defendants specifically targeted Plaintiff because she is a Latino immigrant.”
