Lawyers representing Venezuelan migrants who were recently flown to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts on orders from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis filed a class action lawsuit Tuesday alleging the Republican and his state’s transportation secretary perpetrated a “fraudulent and discriminatory scheme” against them.

“Defendants manipulated them, stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process, and equal protection under law.”

The suit, which was filed Tuesday afternoon in the United States District Court in Boston, said the legal asylum-seekers who boarded two flights from Texas to the wealthy island resort were told they would be sent to Boston or Washington, D.C.

The filing further claims that in an effort to mislead the migrants, Florida officials “manufactured” an “official-looking brochure” listing fake benefits. Migrants were also offered incentives such as $10 McDonald’s gift cards if they boarded the flights.

“These immigrants, who are pursuing the proper channels for lawful immigration status in the United States, experienced cruelty akin to what they fled in their home country,” the lawsuit argues.

“Defendants manipulated them, stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process, and equal protection under law, and impermissibly interfered with the federal government’s exclusive control over immigration in furtherance of an unlawful goal and a personal political agenda,” the document adds.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to find Florida’s actions violated their 4th and 14th Amendment rights, as well as the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as state officials “intentionally targeted only individuals who are non-white and born outside the United States.”

Oscar A. Chacón, executive director of case plaintiff Alianza Americas, said in a statement that “for the governor of Florida to cynically use recently arrived immigrants who have applied for asylum in the U.S. to advance a hate-driven agenda intended to create confusion and rejection throughout the country is not only morally despicable but utterly contrary to the best traditions of humanitarian protection embraced by most Americans.”

“That is why we have taken the step to legally challenge what we view not only as a morally reprehensible action but what we believe is also illegal,” he continued.

“We want to do everything we can to prevent more abuses against newly arrived immigrants,” added Chacón, “especially asylum-seekers who deserve support, protection, and to be recognized for the incredible contributions they make to the U.S., as well as their loved ones in their home countries.”

On Tuesday, Common Dreams reported that Javier Salazar, the sheriff of Bexar County, Texas—the planes to Massachusetts departed from San Antonio—had launched a criminal investigation into the flights.

Last week, seven U.S. lawmakers representing Massachusetts urged the U.S. Treasury Department to investigate DeSantis’ apparent abuse of federal Covid-19 relief funds to pay for the flights.

Massachusetts state Rep. Dylan Fernandes, a Democrat who represents Martha’s Vineyard, this week called for a federal human trafficking probe of DeSantis.

DeSantis said last Friday that the recent flights “are just the beginning of efforts” and that he may work with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to arrange future removals. DeSantis insisted last week that the migrants’ relocations were “all voluntary.”

Two other Republican governors—Abbott and Arizona’s Doug Ducey—have sent migrants to Chicago, New York, Washington, D.C., and Sacramento. In total, more than 13,000 people have been transported to the sanctuary cities since April.

Asked during a Tuesday press conference about reports that DeSantis may send migrants to Delaware, his home state, U.S. President Joe Biden said that “he should come visit.”

“We have a beautiful shoreline,” the president added.

Republished with permission from Common Dreams, by Brett Wilkins