Texas Sheriff Certifies Migrants Transported to Martha's Vineyard as Crime Victims, Qualifying Them for Special Visas

By Mary Webber First Posted: Oct 14, 2022 01:22 AM EDT

A Texas sheriff has certified that the group of migrants transported to Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts last month were victims of crime, qualifying them to get a special visa.

The Hill reported that Bexar County sheriff Javier Salazar submitted the certification documents allowing around 50 migrants to apply for U-visas, a type of visa granted to crime victims. It will give the migrants nonimmigrant status in the U.S. to make sure they will be available as witnesses during investigations or trials.

In a statement released to WGBH on Thursday, Salazar said that based on the claims of migrants transported from Bexar County under false pretenses, they are investigating this case "as possible Unlawful Restraint."

The Venezuelan migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard were reportedly given false information regarding the location of where they were going and the support they would receive upon arrival.

Salazar said they had already submitted documentation through the federal system to ensure the migrants' availability as witnesses during the investigation.

Venezuelan Migrants From Texas Are Victims of Crime

Many of the migrants transported to Massachusetts told the media that they had come to the United States to seek asylum, adding that they were sheltering at the Migrant Resource Center in San Antonio, Texas.

WGBH reported that the migrants were approached by a woman who identified herself as "Perla" and was falsely promised jobs, housing, and education.

The migrants noted that the woman arranged for them to stay at hotels shortly before their flights and provided McDonald's gift certificates. Javier Salazar's office has identified suspects in their probe, but they are not currently releasing names publicly.

Immigration attorneys have worked with the sheriff's Organized Crime Division over the past few weeks to coordinate and conduct interviews with the immigrants and gather their accounts, photos, and videos of the flights.

Salazar opened a criminal investigation last month into the migrants flown from Texas to Martha's Vineyard by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He was the first law enforcement authority to do such.

Migrants Flown to Martha's Vineyard

In June, Ron DeSantis signed a budget worth $12 million for a program to transport unauthorized migrants out of Florida. DeSantis prided it as the highlight of the state's new spending when it came to immigration, The New York Times reported.

A flight carrying 48 migrants attracted international attention and condemnation from the Democrats. Florida officials did not release much information about the program or how it was engineered.

Florida state records presented that airline charter company, Vertol Systems, was paid $615,000 on September 8 and $950,000 less than two weeks later. Florida officials have only acknowledged the initial flights and have not spoken about plans for others.

Aside from Florida's attempt to transport migrants to other states, Texas had also done the same thing when Governor Greg Abbott bused more than 11,000 migrants from the state to three northern Democratic-led cities such as Washington, New York, and Chicago.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Migrants Flown to Martha's Vineyard Say They Were Misled - From Reuters