The immigrants sent irregularly to the island of Martha’s Vineyard, in Massachusetts, expanded their demand by adding the plane company that transferred them, as well as its CEO and senior Florida officials.
Lawyers for Civil Rights (LCR) filed a modification to the federal class action lawsuit after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other officials plotted to trick immigrants into sending them to Massachusetts from Texas .
“All actors –public or private– involved in this effort to exploit our clients for political or monetary gain will be held accountable,” said Iván Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of LCR . “Let this be a warning to anyone thinking of getting involved in a deceptive scheme like this in the future: do so at your own risk.”
Since the original lawsuit was filed, LCR has joined with Boston-based Foley Hoag LLP, which is providing pro bono representation in this litigation, indicated the organization Alianza Américas.
“The amended lawsuit adds as defendants the aircraft company that transported the immigrants (Vertol Systems Company, Inc.), its general director, the” czar of public security” of Florida, the chief of staff of Governor DeSantis and Perla Huerta, the former spy who led the false promises of contracts for immigrants”, it was indicated.
The lawyers added other allegations of fact and claims under federal and state law.
“Based on a set of public records that came to light since LCR presented As the case was filed in September, the amended complaint paints a detailed picture of a coordinated scheme at the highest levels of Florida government,” the plaintiffs charge.
It is indicated that DeSantis and his co-conspirators hatched and executed a plan to induce immigrants, the majority from Venezuela, in a vulnerable situation in Texas, to board private flights through false promises of jobs, shelter and legal assistance.
“Text messages and other documents show, for example, that Lawrence Keefe, Florida’s ‘public safety czar,’ and James Uthmeier, the Governor DeSantis’ chief of staff, were intimately involved in the plot from its inception to its execution,” it is accused.
Vertol Systems Company, Inc, the aircraft company is also a defendant. It is estimated that he was paid $1.5 million dollars.
“This was an abhorrent abuse of power, and we will work to ensure that nothing like this happens again,” said Oscar Chacón, executive director of Alianza Americas. “Using human beings as political props is morally repugnant and illegal.”