Several migrants, part of a controversial relocation by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to Martha’s Vineyard, have been granted the right to work in the United States under a special crime victim visa.
Rachel M. Self, an immigration attorney, told the Boston Globe that these individuals were part of a group misled into believing they would receive jobs and housing in Massachusetts.
This false promise led them to apply for U-visas, which are reserved for crime victims assisting law enforcement.
At least three out of the 49 migrants received preliminary visa approvals this week, allowing them employment and protection from deportation while their applications are processed.
The U-visa, which can potentially pave the way to permanent residency, requires the applicants to be helpful in criminal investigations or prosecutions.
The incident traces back to two migrant flights funded by Florida taxpayers, which landed on Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 after a stop in Florida.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar initiated a criminal investigation following the flights, labeling the act as exploitation for a political maneuver.
Despite Governor DeSantis asserting that the migrants had voluntarily participated, the investigation by Sheriff Salazar supported their claims of being misled.
“Immigrants have been more than willing to leave Bexar County after being abandoned, homeless, and ‘left to fend for themselves,’” a spokesperson for DeSantis stated, defending the flights as a chance for the migrants to find better conditions.
Self highlighted the recent legal advancements as steps towards justice, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging the underlying criminality.
Earlier this month, a federal judge in Boston also allowed the migrants to sue the charter company responsible for their transport, Vertol Systems Co., for the deceitful relocation.
The court criticized the operation, pointing out that it targeted vulnerable immigrants for involvement in a politicized debate.
The DeSantis administration highlighted that the judges’ order resulted in the dismissal of the state defendants.
Julia Friedland, DeSantis’s deputy press secretary, stated, “As we’ve always stated, the flights were conducted lawfully and authorized by the Florida Legislature.”
