A federal judge has dropped Ron DeSantis from a lawsuit after the Republican Florida Governor coordinated flights of illegal immigrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard in 2022. U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs ruled that there were insufficient facts presented in the case to establish personal jurisdiction over DeSantis and various staff members. However, the ruling leaves open the possibility for further litigation against Vertol, the Florida-based company that coordinated the flights for $1.5 million. DeSantis, like counterparts in Texas and Arizona, began flying illegal immigrants to progressive states to highlight the Biden administration’s failing at the southern border. Martha’s Vineyard, known as a playground of rich progressives, was proposed by DeSantis as a destination for such migrants.
Martha’s Vineyard is a popular destination for wealthy progressives, including former President Barack Obama. DeSantis proposed Delaware or Martha’s Vineyard as a destination for illegal immigrants to draw attention to the crisis at the southern border. The flights organized by Vertol were conducted lawfully and authorized by the Florida legislature, according to a spokesperson for DeSantis’ office. The Governor’s office defended the flights as a way to bring national attention to the border crisis and criticized progressive governors who endorse violations of federal immigration law. DeSantis has faced backlash for his actions, but the ruling from Judge Burroughs has cleared him and various staff members from the lawsuit due to insufficient evidence of their involvement in the transportation of illegal immigrants.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs stated that there were insufficient facts presented in the case to establish personal jurisdiction over DeSantis and various staff members. The court could not determine what actions were taken by whom, making it unable to attribute specific transactions or injuries to individual defendants. As a result, DeSantis was dropped from the lawsuit, but the possibility for further litigation against Vertol, the company that coordinated the flights, remains open. DeSantis, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey have all been involved in flying illegal immigrants to progressive states to highlight the failures of the Biden administration at the southern border.
The flights of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard were part of a larger effort by DeSantis and other governors to draw attention to the crisis at the southern border. DeSantis proposed sending migrants to progressive states as a way to highlight the failures of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. The flights were authorized by the Florida legislature and conducted lawfully, according to DeSantis’ office. The Governor’s office defended the flights as a way to bring national attention to the border crisis and criticized progressive governors for endorsing violations of federal immigration law. Despite facing backlash for his actions, DeSantis was ultimately cleared from the lawsuit due to insufficient evidence of his involvement in the transportation of illegal immigrants.
DeSantis’ proposal to send illegal immigrants to progressive states such as Martha’s Vineyard drew attention to the border crisis and sparked controversy. The flights organized by Vertol were conducted lawfully and authorized by the Florida legislature, according to DeSantis’ office. The Governor’s office defended the flights as a way to bring national attention to the crisis at the southern border and criticized progressive governors who endorse violations of federal immigration law. Despite facing criticism for his actions, DeSantis was dropped from the lawsuit after the court found insufficient evidence to establish personal jurisdiction over him. The ruling leaves open the possibility for further litigation against Vertol, the company that coordinated the flights for $1.5 million.
