Texas Sheriff Files Criminal Charges Over Ron DeSantis's Martha's Vineyard Migrant Stunt Amid California Migrant Stunt Row

By Rick Martin Jun 07 2023, 21:51 PM EDT

Ron DeSantis's Martha's Vineyard migrant stunt to "Own the Libs" is getting some legal consequences as a Texas sheriff filed several criminal charges for people involved in luring Venezuelan migrants from a migrant center in San Antonio with the promise of jobs and into a plane to Martha's Vineyard as part of a political stunt.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office stated that it had completed its investigation into the human trafficking case where 49 migrants staying in San Antonio were transported to Martha's Vineyard under Florida Governor Ron DeSantis's migrant busing policy.

According to the Texas Tribune, criminal charges have already been filed with the local district attorney, though which people have been charged remains sealed.

The Bexar County Sheriff's Office also released a statement, saying that the counts charged include several counts of unlawful restraint, which are both misdemeanors and felonies. The case is currently being reviewed by the Bexar County district attorney.

Bexar County District Attorney Joe Gonzales stated on Tuesday that there may be a lengthy and labor-intensive process to determine if a crime has indeed been committed, and they will review it and present the case before a grand jury for deliberation.

The Texas sheriff wrapped up its investigation as the Florida governor is running for president and pulled off yet another stunt, this time sending migrants to California.

Martha's Vineyard Migrants Tricked into Getting Inside a Plane

There may be a case against the Florida officials who lured the migrants onto a plane, as pointed out by CBS News. The charge of unlawful restraint comes when somebody would "restrict a person's movements without consent, to interfere substantially with the person's liberty, by moving the person from one place to another or by confining the person." It is considered "without consent" if the act was done by force, intimidation, or deception. In the case of the Martha's Vineyard migrants, it is deception.

A woman named Perla Huerta was the one reportedly responsible for luring the Martha's Vineyard migrants. She reportedly gave them $10 McDonald's gift cards in exchange for a signed consent form to board a flight to Massachusetts.

While aboard the plane, the migrants admitted that they were given a brochure with a list of organizations that provide social services the migrants were not eligible for. This would amount to deception.

While the migrants signed waivers, those signatures may have been gotten through fraudulent means, including the false promises of jobs and services provided for them. When they arrived at Martha's Vineyard, the migrants were left to fend for themselves, with nobody waiting to help them. Residents were also shocked but soon banded together to help the migrants and condemned DeSantis.

Ron DeSantis Vs. Gavin Newsom Row Over California Migrant Stunt Heats Up

As Florida's DeSantis administration possibly faces legal trouble in Texas, he might also be facing kidnapping and human trafficking violations in California. Governor Gavin Newsom of California has suggested that DeSantis could face state criminal charges after sending over immigrants from Texas to Sacramento. Much like the Martha's Vineyard migrants, they were also lured with the promises of jobs and made to sign consent waivers but were left to fend for themselves as soon as they arrived.

According to Politico, DeSantis and Newsom have been sparring over various issues over the last few months as the Florida Governor charges up his mostly white conservative base with culture war issues and controversial policies. Meanwhile, Newsom has constantly attacked red states, including Florida, over their policies.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Criminal case filed for DeSantis migrant flights to Martha's Vineyard - News 4 (WOAI) San Antonio