Texas sheriff will investigate Florida flying Venezuelan migrants to Martha's Vineyard

[Nevilledog]

Miami Herald

https://archive.ph/hThpq

San Antonio, Texas

Authorities in Texas have opened a criminal investigation into Gov. Ron DeSantis’ operation to fly roughly 50 Venezuela migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard last week.

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said in a news release Monday that his office is investigating whether the migrants were the victims of a crime.

“The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office has opened an investigation into the migrants that were lured from the Migrant Resource Center, located in Bexar County, TX, and flown to Florida, where they were ultimately left to fend for themselves in Martha’s Vineyard, MA,” said Salazar, referring to an aid center for migrants in San Antonio, which is in Bexar County.

Salazar said his office was working with private attorneys for the migrants, as well as advocacy groups.

“We are also preparing to work with any federal agencies that have concurrent jurisdiction, should the need arise,” added Salazar, who is a Democrat.

*snip*

[Biophilic]

1. It's really a sad take that my first response was 'well there goes the cover up''.

Sorry Texas, but that was my first thought. Please prove me wrong.

[TheBlackAdder]

2. That's mine too.

[Nevilledog]

5. Video of Sheriff

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

✨TheStarsAtNight ✨
@Star5AtNight
·
Follow
Texas Sheriff Javier Salazar is opening up an investigation into DeSantis' transport of Venezuelan asylum seekers to Martha's Vineyard.

Sheriff Salazar says the asylum seekers were here LEGALLY and LURED away.


Watch on Twitter
3:28 PM · Sep 19, 2022

[Biophilic]

7. So maybe there is some hope unless Abbott gets him arrested for something.

So tired of watching the good guys lose.

[Tree Lady]

3. Bexar County is in liberal area San Antonio

My daughter lives there. I just know they wouldn't even try in other red counties.

[Botany]

4. This should be a DoJ case

Crossing interstate lines, using federal money (DeSantis took C-19 funds and put 'em into FDOT
and used that money), Theft by Fraud ... lied to the Venezuelans with their pamphlet .... operating out
his jurisdiction, and he is an asshole too.

People of Florida could bring charges of misuse of state funds and being an asshole too.

[Evolve Dammit]

13. Absolutely!! x1000

[Botany]

15. I was wrong the Texas Sheriff made a good case too

n/t

[Evolve Dammit]

22. Yes, now understand that kidnapping cases typically originate in the jurisdiction where it occurred

[grantcart]

16. The DOJ resources are being stretched to the limits with

1/6 and multiple Trump investigations. Federal investigations take much longer to investigate and get before a grand jury. If there are local LEO/prosecutors who want to get involved it is what we call a force multiplyer.

[Botany]

17. I listened to what the Texas sheriff said and he was 100% right

n/t

[NQAS]

6. Good.

Maybe states will wrap up these nutjobs. Works for me.

[Fullduplexxx]

8. Just like o.j. searchin for the real killer of nichol

[Arazi]

12. Doubt it. This is a Dem sheriff and he sounded quite pissed off in the presser

[gratuitous]

9. A welcome development

I with Sheriff Salazar every success, and may other law enforcement agencies flock to the banner he has planted today.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

10. Washington Post-Texas sheriff to investigate DeSantis flying migrants to Martha's Vineyard

I am glad that this crime is being investigated by the Bexar County Sheriff's office

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/09/19/desantis-migrant-flights-texas-sheriff/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_source=twitter

A Texas sheriff will investigate the flights arranged by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) to transport dozens of Venezuelan migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, allegedly after making false promises of work and other services.

The Bexar County Sheriff’s Office announced that it had opened an investigation into last week’s incident, in which migrants were “lured from the Migrant Resource Center” in their county — which covers greater San Antonio — and flown to Florida and later on to Martha’s Vineyard, where they were “left to fend for themselves.”

“Additionally, we are working with private attorneys who are representing the victims, as well as advocacy organizations regarding this incident,” Sheriff Javier Salazar (D) said in a statement. “We are also preparing to work with any federal agencies that have concurrent jurisdiction, should the need arise.”

DeSantis surprised federal and state officials on Wednesday by sending migrants who recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border to the affluent Massachusetts resort island. The move is part of an ongoing campaign by DeSantis and other Republican governors in Texas and Arizona to send migrants to Democrat-heavy cities such as Washington, New York and Chicago to publicize soaring numbers of crossings this year on the southern border......

Democrats and immigration advocates decried the incident as a political stunt; the White House slammed DeSantis and other Republican governors “using migrants as political pawns” as “shameful ... reckless and just plain wrong.”

[LetMyPeopleVote]

11. Bexar County Sheriff announces he has opened a criminal investigation

Link to tweet

[Rebl2]

14. Almost

sounds like kidnapping to me. Lured away. Crossed state lines.

[Ford_Prefect]

18. The Texas AG will try to bury it. Especially since Abbott has done the same thing.

They will fire and quietly "disappear" those who were in on it in Texas GOP circles. They''ll be sent to Seychelles, Elba, or to some distant location lacking internet and extradition.

The state bureaucracy will lose or erase the paperwork like they did W's military history and drug dependence.

[grantcart]

19. Texas AG has nothing to do with it, local Sheriff submits evidence

to County Prosecutor who convenes grand jury, serves indictment and prosecutes the case.

[Ford_Prefect]

20. Watch and learn. Abbott had several charges buried and questions raised about it went nowhere.

The procedure may be one thing as you established. I have no doubt whatever that the AG has considerable ability to interfere in how fast that procedure occurs and who may claim to have superseding interests. That doesn't begin to describe how evidence and witnesses can be "lost" or stalled within the system without actually going anywhere at all. I refer you to how long it has taken to arrive at the point we presently stand regarding the investigations into who did what to who, for whom, and with whose connivance, when and how it got paid for, and why they did it on Jan 6th.

I remind us ALL that this is neither the first group of immigrants sent out of Texas nor the last. The seemingly minor difference that it was done at the behest of DeSantis rather that Abbott has technical merit as to some of the laws broken. However the practice of exporting migrants from the streets of Texas and other states has been going on for awhile now. That this particular group was recruited to be sent to Martha's Vineyard by plane seems to be a significant part of what is driving the interest in it. What is in question now is the method and scope of the program to do it. It would appear that a number of private operatives were involved along with several DHS agents in a coordinated effort to damage the credibility of these migrants within the process of immigration they are pursuing. One must ask if similar interventions and subversions occurred with any of those previously exported by DeSantis or Abbott, and who is involved in the larger scheme to enable it?

[grantcart]

21. Baloney and easily proven

Prosecutors are not in some hierarchy where County Prosecutors are under the authority of the political jurisdiction above it.

That is why Fulton County Prosecutor Fani Willis is running a grand jury that is likely to bring the first indictments against Trump and the Republican Governor and Republican Attorney General atr powerless to do anything about it.

If this Sheriff is working in harmony with the Prosecutor there isn't any state authority that can interfere, they may even welcome the opportunity to assist in taking DeSantos down a peg.

The prosecution may not reach up the chain to Florida and the Florida probably gave a general order and wasn't aware of the specific alleged fraud actions.