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Hot Topics MIDTERMS MAR-A-LAGO RAID MIGRANT CRISIS

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Ron DeSantis Published September 20, 2022 7:58pm EDT

DeSantis’ office hits back after class

action suit from migrants, reveals
'consent form' they allegedly signed
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent migrants to Martha’s Vineyard from Texas last Wednesday as part of his pledge to
drop off illegal immigrants in liberal states

By Bradford Betz Adam Sabes

, | Fox News

Gutfeld: Democrats' plan has been to attack the person with solutions, DeSantis
Greg Gutfeld and then panel on 'The Five' react to Democrats calling out and in some cases suing Florida's governor

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The office of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday slammed a class action lawsuit filed
by illegal immigrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard last week, saying the journey was done on
a voluntary basis.

The lawsuit, filed in the District of Massachusetts, alleges that DeSantis and others
"designed and executed a premeditated, fraudulent, and illegal scheme centered on
exploiting this vulnerability for the sole purpose of advancing their own personal, financial
and political interests."

Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown,
Mass., on Martha's Vineyard. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette via AP)

In a statement provided to Fox News, Gov. DeSantis’ spokeswoman Taryn Fenske,

slammed the class action lawsuit as "political theater" perpetrated by "opportunistic
activists" at the expense of illegal immigrants .

"Ifthese activists spent even a fraction of this time and effort at the border, perhaps some
accountability would be brought to the Biden Administration’s reckless border policies that
entice illegal immigrants to make dangerous and often lethal journeys through Central
America and put their lives in the hands of cartels and Coyotes," Fenske said.

CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT BLAMES REPUBLICANS FOR MAKING BORDER CRISIS WORSE

Fenske provided Fox News with a copy of a consent form – available in English and
Spanish – that she said was given to migrants before they boarded.

A consent form in multiple languages provided to migrants. (Taryn M. Fenske)

The form reads: "I agree to hold the benefactor or its designed representatives harmless
of all liability arising out of or in any way relating to any injuries and damages that may
occur during the agreed transport to locations outside of Texas until the final destination
in Massachusetts."

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks at a press conference in November 2021. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via
Getty Images)

The class action lawsuit alleges that the migrants were told they were going to Boston or
Washington, "which was completely false," and were induced with perks such as $10
McDonalds gift certificates.

"No human being should be used as a political pawn," said Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal,
executive director of Lawyers for Civil Rights, which is seeking class-action status in the
lawsuit filed on behalf of several migrants who were aboard last week's flights and Alianza
Americas, a network of advocacy groups.

Get all the stories you need-to-know from

The lawsuit alleges that migrants were induced to cross state lines under false pretenses, the most powerful name in news delivered
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Fenske said the transportation of these migrants "was done on a voluntary basis."

"The immigrants were homeless, hungry, and abandoned – and these activists didn’t care
about them then. Florida’s program gave them a fresh start in a sanctuary state and these
individuals opted to take advantage of chartered flights to Massachusetts," she said. "It
was disappointing that Martha’s Vineyard called in the Massachusetts National Guard to
bus them away from the island within 48 hours."

The Associated Press contributed to this report .

Bradford Betz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to bradford.betz@fox.com and
on Twitter: @Bradford_Betz .

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