After sending illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard in September, Ron DeSantis started a firestorm. It was a self-described sanctuary city and playground for the leftwing elite.
DeSantis was immediately charged with criminal and civil liability for providing rides to people who volunteered to ride. The local sheriff began an investigation and claimed that the governor of Florida violated the law by allegedly coercing illegal immigrants. Rep. Adam Schiff demanded a House select committee to investigate the matter.
There were also absurd lawsuits brought by illegal immigrants or government accountability groups.
It was absurd. It was absurd that illegal immigrants would volunteer to travel and be told where they were going. To be clear, this is exactly what happened. Nobody was brought to Martha’s Vineyard with the false pretense they’d be moving somewhere else or being offered a job immediately. Most illegal immigrants were grateful for the ride, even though they had no other option than to sit on the streets in Texas border towns with no prospects.
Now, the lawsuit has come to an end and DeSantis has once more won.
BREAKING—Florida Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Against @GovRonDeSantis Administration over Illegal Immigrant Flights
Reported by @javmanjarres via @Floridianpress https://t.co/mJQQE30vFb
— Javier Manjarres (@JavManjarres) January 30, 2023
A Leon County Circuit Judge has dismissed a lawsuit alleging the Florida Department of Transportation (and a contractor) failed to fully comply with public records requests regarding controversial state-funded illegal migration flights from Martha’s Vinyard, Massachusetts.
Judge Angela Dempsey issued two similar rulings last week, rejecting the lawsuit filed by the Florida Center for Government Accountability in October against Verl Systems Company, Inc. and the Department of Transportation.
The center claimed that the contractor and the department violated the state’s open-records law by failing to provide requested documents regarding the September flight of approximately 50 migrants from San Antonio (Texas) to Martha’s Vineyard. Gov. The flights, which were designed by Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration have attracted national attention.
The Florida Center for Government Accountability sued DeSantis in this particular lawsuit. They claimed that he had not turned over all records related to flights. Judge DeSantis disagreed and ruled that there was no evidence that the records existed or that they were illegally being held. This follows another legal victory, in which a judge ruled that DeSantis was not required to reinstate Andrew Warren, a far-left prosecutor who was fired for refusing to enforce Florida’s “gender-affirming” care for minors.
What does this say about DeSantis’ character? It’s more evidence that DeSantis chooses his battles well, I believe. He’s tough, yes, but what good is that? Conservatism evolves by not allowing its adversaries easy wins and staying two steps ahead. This is how you win elections and push for reforms in the current climate.
