Judge Dismisses DeSantis Migrant Flights Claim

A federal judge indirectly supported the state of Florida’s use of flights to send migrants to other parts of the country in a key win for Gov. Ron DeSantis (R). DeSantis used the flights as a key means to highlight the increased flow of migrants into the country.

U.S. District Judge Allison D. Burroughs dismissed part of a lawsuit against DeSantis and state officials over a series of flights of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts in 2022. The sending of migrants to the wealthy resort island received considerable attention. After a brief stay, the residents turned over the migrants to military officials.

The judge wrote that the court could not find specific injury caused by DeSantis or the Florida officials, and as such “personal jurisdiction has not been established.”

The move could expand Florida’s ability to use such flights in the future.

“As we’ve always stated, the flights were conducted lawfully and authorized by the Florida legislature,” said DeSantis’ office. “We look forward to Florida’s next illegal immigration relocation flight, and we are glad to bring national attention to the crisis at the southern border.”

The governor has used state resources to stem the flow of migrants from Haiti, which has increased since the country has fallen into a state of near-anarchy over the last several months.

He said that the state could send Haitian migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in a manner reminiscent of the 2022 flight.

“Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard,” DeSantis said.

DeSantis has also sent thousands of migrants northward on buses, alongside other states such as Texas and Arizona. The flow of migrants to self-declared sanctuary states and cities received considerable criticism from Democrats, especially as some areas have taken in tens of thousands of migrants.

My legislation will DOUBLE the distance offshore from 12 to 24 miles that CBP can intercept migrants & drug smugglers.

We can't leave Florida’s coastline wide-open like our southern border… especially with Haiti falling apart.

This bill passed unanimously out of committee &… pic.twitter.com/3LIzhfjRje

— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) March 19, 2024

New York City has received nearly 200,000 migrants in the past two years, sparking considerable budget cuts and strain on the city’s government.

The flow of migrants has increased since President Joe Biden took office in 2021. An estimated seven million illegal immigrants are believed to have entered the country in the last three years, with more than three million in 2023 alone.