In a recent ruling by a federal judge in Boston, nearly 50 migrants transported from Texas to Martha's Vineyard in 2022 have been given the green light to move forward with a lawsuit against the company responsible for dropping them off. The migrants, identified as Yanet, Pablo, and Jesus in the lawsuit, along with immigrant rights group Alianza Americas, allege that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, members of his administration, and Vertol Systems Company misled them in what they call an "uncivilized, fraudulent, civil-rights conspiracy targeting LatinX immigrants."

According to the lawsuit, the migrants were initially told they would be flown to a "city in the Northeast" and promised stable housing, work opportunities, access to educational resources, and assistance in their immigration proceedings. However, shortly before landing, they were informed for the first time that they were being taken to Martha's Vineyard, which came as a surprise to both the migrants and the island's residents.

This incident reflects a trend seen in recent months, as Republican governors have transported migrants to more liberal cities such as New York, Chicago, and Denver, highlighting what they perceive as the federal government's failure to manage the migrant crisis and secure the southern border. Florida Governor DeSantis had publicly expressed his intention to redirect migrants from the southern border as a way to challenge Democratic leaders.

US District Judge Allison Burroughs ruled that the migrants can proceed with most of their claims against Vertol Systems, the aviation transport company responsible for the flights. However, claims against DeSantis and other officials named in the lawsuit were dismissed due to jurisdictional concerns. Burroughs left the option open for the plaintiffs to refile their claims in another court.

Florida's Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue, who was included in the lawsuit for his role in soliciting quotes and negotiating contracts for transporting migrants, had the claims against him dismissed. The plaintiffs allege that Perdue approved payments from the $12 million in funds appropriated by the Florida Department of Transportation for this purpose.

Vertol Systems has not yet responded to requests for comments from CNN regarding the ruling. However, DeSantis' office issued a statement emphasizing that the flights were conducted lawfully and authorized by the Florida Legislature. The statement further expressed anticipation for Florida's next immigrant relocation flight.

Following their arrival on Martha's Vineyard, the migrants were temporarily housed at Joint Base Cape Cod, where they were provided with dormitory-style accommodations, access to legal services, healthcare, food, and crisis counseling. The current whereabouts of the migrants remain unclear.

Despite the surprise arrivals, residents and activists on Martha's Vineyard swiftly offered assistance, providing a place to sleep, meals, a play area for children, and access to healthcare. Alianza Americas, the immigrant rights group involved in the lawsuit, affirmed their commitment to fighting for dignity and justice for all migrants who are being dehumanized.

Lawyers for Civil Rights, the legal representation for the migrants, hailed the ruling as a major victory, emphasizing the message that private companies can and will be held accountable for facilitating the violation of immigrants' rights through illegal and fraudulent schemes.

Moving forward, the migrants' legal team plans to seek jurisdictional discovery to assert claims against DeSantis and others involved in the alleged conspiracy.