Samuel Case, FISM News
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Texas Sheriff Javier Salazar of Bexar County has certified that illegal immigrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard last month by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis were victims of a crime, subsequently allowing them to obtain visas.
Salazar further stated that he is investigating DeSantis for possible unlawful restraint, the latest move in a political chess match surrounding DeSantis’s attempt to expose the hypocrisy at the border.
“Based upon the claims of migrants being transported from Bexar County under false pretenses, we are investigating this case as possible Unlawful Restraint,” Salazar said in a statement to GBH News.
The Hill reports the sheriff has submitted documents that will allow the close to 50 Venezuelan migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard to apply for U Visas, which are “set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity.”
“We have submitted documentation through the federal system to ensure the migrants’ availability as witnesses during the investigation,” he said.
Salazar opened an investigation into DeSantis’ actions last month, saying the migrants were “‘lured’ under false pretenses” to Martha’s Vineyard, although he could not point to a specific crime.
“At this point, I’m not able to definitively say here’s the statute that they broke either federal, state or local,” Salazar said at the time. “But what I can tell you is it’s wrong just from a human rights perspective, what was done to these folks is wrong.”
DeSantis asserts the migrants were clearly told where they were going, having signed off on waivers, and being given a pamphlet that provided information on Martha’s Vineyard and Massachusetts state resources for immigrants.
The sheriff’s certification came a day after the Treasury Department opened a probe into DeSantis’ use of pandemic relief funds to transport the migrants to Massachusetts.