In a court filing on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other defendants requested the dismissal of a class-action lawsuit challenging the state-sponsored flights of 49 migrants from Texas to Massachusetts in 2022.
The defendants argue that the lawsuit lacks legal merit and should be dismissed for various reasons, including jurisdictional issues related to it being filed in Massachusetts.
Related: After Martha’s Vineyard Dust-Up, Biden Made Florida Top-Stop For Migrant Parole Program
The lawsuit, initially filed in September 2022 and amended in July 2024, alleges violations of the migrants’ due-process and equal-protection rights, false imprisonment, and claims that the flights aimed to boost DeSantis’ political profile.
The defendants, including DeSantis, his chief of staff, and other officials, maintain that the transportation program was designed to mitigate the impact of a migrant surge on Florida. They dispute allegations of wrongdoing and argue that the plaintiffs were not deceived into participating in the flights.
Read: Federal Judge In Massachusetts Hands Florida Gov. DeSantis Win In Martha’s Vineyard Flights
The lawsuit seeks a declaration that the defendants’ actions were unlawful, an injunction to prevent similar practices in the future, and damages.
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