A San Antonio-area sheriff has launched a criminal investigation into whether recruiters unlawfully tricked a group of 48 asylum seekers into boarding flights that took them to Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts. 

San Antonio, September 21 (RHC)-- In the U.S. state of Texas, a San Antonio-area sheriff has launched a criminal investigation into whether recruiters unlawfully tricked a group of 48 asylum seekers into boarding flights that took them to Martha’s Vineyard, an island off the coast of Massachusetts. 

Lawyers for the migrants say they were given brochures promising cash assistance, job placement services and more.  Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Monday the asylum seekers were instead unceremoniously left stranded.

Sheriff Javier Salazar told reporters: “What, if anything, did they sign?  Did they even understand the document that was put in front of them, if they signed something?  Or was this strictly a predatory measure, somebody coming and preying upon people that are here minding their own business and are here legally, not bothering a soul, but somebody saw fit to come from another state, hunt them down, prey upon them and then take advantage of their desperate situation, just for the sake of political theater, just for the sake of making some sort of a statement, and putting people’s lives in danger?”

Last week, Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis took credit for sending the asylum seekers to Martha’s Vineyard, saying it’s part of a broader scheme by Republican governors to bus or fly migrants to states controlled by Democrats.