Texas sheriff opens investigation into Martha’s Vineyard flights

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Monday he believes there is criminal activity involved in the transportation of 48 migrants from Florida to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass. Salazar described the migrants as “preyed upon” and “hoodwinked.” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said that the immigrants were more than willing to leave Texas to find greener pastures in a sanctuary city. An attorney who met with several Venezuelan immigrants said they thought they were going to Boston, not Martha’s Vineyard.

Is anyone else investigating this? Democrats such as California Gov. Gavin Newsom and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas have requested that the Justice Department investigate the flights. State Rep. Dylan Fernandes of Massachusetts said Sunday that the state was asking the Justice Department to open a human trafficking probe against Florida officials over the transportation of the immigrants.

Dig deeper: Read Steven Wedgeworth’s column in WORLD Opinions about how solving immigration is hard for everyone.