Rob Galibois was sworn in as Cape and Islands District Attorney in January. —Courtesy Rob Galibois

Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois will be launching an investigation into last year’s transportation of dozens of South American asylum seekers who had reportedly been lured onto planes bound for Martha’s Vineyard, the D.A.’s office announced Friday.

The announcement came one day before Republican presidential hopeful Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis attended a fundraiser on Cape Cod, prior to campaigning in New Hampshire. 

The Florida governor has claimed responsibility for the Vineyard flights; he’s also taken credit for sending migrants and asylum seekers to parts of California under Florida’s controversial relocation program. 

“I am conscious of my obligation to investigate any potentially criminal activity that occurs within my jurisdiction,” Galibois’ statement said. “l am aware that immigrants were tricked and fooled into boarding planes that ultimately landed on Martha’s Vineyard.

“I believe this falls within my purview as district attorney to investigate,” Galibois continued. “Given that much of the information that I seek to review as part of my investigation falls outside of my jurisdiction, I stand behind California and believe in order for a full and proper investigation to occur, the Department of Justice [DOJ] must be involved. I stand ready to cooperate with the Department of Justice.”

Back in September, Galibois’ predecessor, Michael O’Keefe, had told The Times that his office wasn’t actively looking into the flights. He stated that local officials had failed to “amass any evidence” indicating criminal wrongdoing, and objected to the claim that the nearly 50 refugees were kidnapped.

In a letter sent to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland Monday, Galibois said there are “serious indications and allegations that [the migrants] were inveigled into making [the] journey.

“My office posits that due to the interstate transportation of these migrants, this alleged scheme remains available for federal prosecution,” he said. “As elected law enforcement and public officials from California to Texas have noted, ‘it is unconscionable to use people as political props by persuading them to travel to another state based on false or deceptive representations.’”

Additionally, in the letter, Galibois requested assistance in obtaining evidence pertaining to the flights, including certified translations of interviews conducted with most of the asylum seekers following their Vineyard arrival. 

“These interviews, coupled with other obtained evidence, would provide crucial support for my initial assessment as to whether further investigation is warranted,” Galibois wrote.

The Cape and Islands DA now joins a handful of other public officials who have called for an investigation and possible prosecution of the officials responsible for arranging the September flights.

Shortly after the flights, a Texas sheriff had announced that his office would be opening a criminal investigation into the events, after obtaining information indicating that the refugees had been lured onto planes under false pretenses.

Last month, the Bexar County sheriff, Javier Salazar, announced that his office had completed the criminal case and filed it with the county’s district attorney; his office recommended charges of unlawful restraint. 

The Vineyard flights, which are largely considered a political stunt, also prompted a handful of lawsuits against DeSantis and associated persons, on behalf of the group of refugees. 

In a joint letter sent July 6, Salazar, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, and California Gov. Gavin Newsom also urged the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate potential violations of federal law by the entities involved in the scheme. 

“Over the last nine months, individuals seeking asylum in the United States were transported from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and to Sacramento, California, under a program funded by the State of Florida,” the joint statement read. 

“It is not uncommon for local jurisdictions and nongovernmental organizations to facilitate onward travel from the border for people to connect with family or friends elsewhere in the United States after they are processed and released by federal immigration officials, and are pursuing their immigration cases as required by the law. But this scheme is different: According to news reports, recruiters deceived migrants into taking flights to these particular locations based on promises of jobs and shelter.”

Despite the curious timing of the statement’s release, Galibois has received praise for joining the fight to determine whether federal laws have been violated, and to potentially hold those responsible for arranging the flights accountable. 

“I am deeply grateful to Cape and Islands District Attorney Galibois for joining the efforts of Sheriff Salazar, Attorney General Bonta, and Gov. Newsom to ensure that these criminals can never harm more vulnerable people in the future,” Island attorney Rachel Self said in a statement to the Times Monday. “This is what real public servants do: They serve and protect.”

Self, who’s been actively involved in seeking justice on behalf of the dozens of refugees since the day they arrived on the Vineyard, urged the U.S. DOJ to follow suit. 

“Our Department of Justice must follow this excellent example,” she said. “It should bring its great investigative power to bear, not only to help those who are being exploited, but to reveal to the American people exactly what sins our public officials are committing in our name. This action is sorely needed.

“I hope Attorney General Garland will heed the call, step up, and fulfill his most sacred role as a public servant: protecting those who cannot protect themselves,” she said. 

It wasn’t just Galibois who offered a public statement prior to DeSantis’ visit this past weekend. State Rep. Dylan Fernandes, D-Falmouth — who has been consistently outspoken on the matter, deeming the flights a political stunt — took to Twitter, calling out the Florida governor for coming to the area where many of the migrants were eventually relocated. 

“Hearing that DeSantis is coming to Cape Cod, to the community where refugee families he exploited for his political gain now live, to beg for money for his failing campaign,” Fernandes said on Twitter. “[DeSantis] is a coward who bullies people weaker than him … he will never be president.”

34 replies on “Nearly a year later, local DA opens investigation into migrant flights”

  1. I find it extremely funny that Fernandes will accuse DeSantis of taking advantage and having a political stunt and now he’s doing the same thing and taking advantage of DeSantis visiting the area. Embarrassed with our district attorney, and our local officials they are a disgrace, and do nothing to better, the atmosphere and divisiveness in our area.

    1. Timing a statement to coincide with a local event is PR 101. (You may have noticed that quite a few public officials are taking advantage of the NAACP’s national convention being in Boston at the moment.) Do you really believe that flying 50 migrants under false pretenses to a place that was unprepared for their arrival and about which they knew nothing is comparable?

    2. I am embarrassed for DeSantis’ political stunt.
      It has backfired, he is down in the polls.
      DeSantis did his best to divide the Island, he failed.
      DeSantis has even less support on the Island than Trump.
      Biden won 77% of the Island vote.
      Fernandes is doing what we the people of the Island want.

  2. Fools errand. Does he really think this is a crime? No evidence to pursue but if he insist–go for it. Complete waste of time.

    1. Do you feel the same way about DeSantis’ ridiculous suit against bud light? Want to bet that one gets thrown out instantly upon review?

      1. DeSantis suit is for damage to the Florida pension fund. If a Conservative group damaged the MA pension fund you would be up in arms trying to protect the widows and their meager savings. Yes its an uphill battle but it gives good warning to others who indulge in this kind of foolishness. Do you have Bud light shares?

        1. andy– my problem is that DeSantis has no authorization to do anything about immigration. That power is relegated to congress, and not the states.
          Especially a “non border” state. For some reason conservatives seem upset that the federal government is doing it’s job and transporting legal immigrants away from border states to destinations around the country where they are met by family , friends or social workers.
          It seems the BIG problem with that is that some of these flights occur between sunset and sunrise. I can’t figure out why that is such an “issue” for the right..
          But, my problem is the misappropriation of federal funds.
          And the lying of course,— but really we are getting numb to the fact that the republican is the party of liars, and no seems to care.
          DeSantis used money that was authorized by congress to mitigate the Covid pandemic.
          But since DeSantis thought covid was a hoax, he didn’t spend it, and did this with it.
          Imagine if the federal government gave AOC money to buy American flags for her offices, and she decided to buy a few cases of Bud light for the homeless people on the street with the money instead.
          In my opinion that is as defensible as saying the migrants got a free ride to M.V . and are better off for it.

          1. Don, I respect and agree with you 99% of the time, but here I have a bone to pick. You say: “… my problem is the misappropriation of federal funds.” That is one of the two issues, and it may or not be a crime.
            And then you say: “and the lying of course”. I ask, what lying are you referring to?
            Are you accusing Perla of lying? Evidence proves that she told the truth, and I have not heard about a single lie from her.
            The liars are the lawyers who are lying about Perla lying to the refugees. And I say to these lawyers: stop stuffing lies into the minds and mouths of the refugees. Are you willing to press them to commit perjury? for the sake of trying to win your lawsuit. If so, I hope you get disbarred.

    2. Fools errand. Does Biden really think that Trump has no right to retain classified documents. No evidence to pursue but if he insist–go for it. Complete waste of time.

  4. Good to see Mr. Galibois is doing his job.
    Can’t wait to see the comments of the willfully ignorant that think crime is only committed by members of one political party.
    Just remember, this is a call for an investigation.
    Everyone involved is presumed innocent.
    Especially the guilty.
    If this goes through, and it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed, those convicted should be punished according to the rule of law.
    If they are found innocent, they are free to do what they want.

    1. I repeat my response to Carla Cooper:
      No crime was committed against the 49 refugees.
      Was there a crime against tax payers, for allegedly using funds earmarked for other stuff? That’s another story.
      But for God’s sake, don’t let them get away with putting lies in the minds and mouths of the refugees. Perla told them the truth, as evidenced by what actually happened, and you may be sure that in their hearts they are deeply grateful for Perla rescuing them. See my comment below.

  5. It’s truly a tragedy to fly people who are suffering from horrible conditions in their homeland to one of the most beautiful places in our country for free. Feed them, find them housing, transport them to other facilities free of charge. Without that nasty Ron Desantis they could have had the opportunity to die in the late summer heat of our southern states. Or perhaps been flown by the Biden administration’s planes to Westchester, New York in the middle of the night.

  6. Before any investigations were even conducted and concluded, the previous DA proclaimed that there was no evidence that a crime was committed. Thank you to the voters of Martha’s Vineyard, Nantucket and Cape Cod for electing a DA with integrity and courage.

    1. Exactly.
      Those who see no wrongdoing probably tend to be unkind and sheisters in their daily lives, have no children of their own and or definitely should never have any.

    1. Taxes????
      The people DeSantis flew to Island would love to be in the position to pay taxes.
      Everyone pays taxes, sales taxes, fuel use taxes, permit fee taxes.

  9. Regardless of one’s feelings on the issue, our nation’s immigration policies (and *ahem* practices) is a perfectly legitimate conversation for Americans to have.

    But using people as props for political theater is just wrong, and even people alarmed at the number of illegal migrants in our country think so.

    DeSantis thought he was being slick by enacting a stale internet joke (Send ‘em to the liberal enclaves! See how they like it!), but it has likely cost him the Republican nomination.

    Good for Galibois for finally getting around to addressing this.

    Perhaps well see that Brady List he promised to publish online any DAY now.

    Mr. Galibois, the Cape & Islands DA office’s website is in dire need of an update; Dead links, old info, contact email addresses no longer active.

    Fulfill your promise, if you want my vote again.

    1. Maybe the website is out of date because he still hasn’t accounted for the hit and run incident he was accused of being involved during the middle of the day. Perhaps a liquid lunch that day Mr. DA?

      1. This is interesting. Who accused him of a hit and run accident? What day did it happen? Where? Who did he hit? Is there a police report? What makes you think that he had a “liquid lunch” Enquiring minds want to know, if your comment is libelous?

  10. Misappropriation of federal funds Keller. How about the budget being 1.3 trillion more than the tax revenue received? Misappropriation indeed.

    1. andy– sorry you missed the civics part of the citizenship classes.

      But here is how it works—
      The president proposes a budget for the fiscal year which begins on Oct. 1 of the preceding year. Congress then debates it, and both branches of congress  approve it.
      So– you have duly noted that congress approved a budget for fiscal 2022 (starting on oct 1 2021) that was 1.3 trillion dollars more than tax revenue. Which results in what we here in America call a “deficit”
      But what you apparently don’t know, or if you do, you choose not to mention it, is that this 1.3 trillion dollar deficit  is the lowest in years.
      In fact, the deficit for 2020, which started on Oct 1 2019 was nearly 3 times that of FY 2022 at a record breaking 3.13 trillion dollars.
      The deficit for FY 2021 which started on Oct 1 2020 was 2.77 trillion dollars, for a combined total of 5.9 trillion dollars during the last 2 years of the trump regime.
      And then, in the first year of the Biden presidency, the deficit for FY 2022 , which started Oct 1 2021 , was cut by 53%,  bringing it down to the 1.3 trillion dollars you mention.
      https://fiscaldata.treasury.gov/americas-finance-guide/national-deficit/

      But never mind about that–
      In English, the word “misappropriation” is a noun that means
      “wrongful use, especially the dishonest or inappropriate use of others’ money, data, etc.”

      So in this case, the tax money that I paid — yes, MY money, which congress appropriated to the state of Florida for a specific use, was used for something else.

      If , when I was 10 years old, my mother gave me $3 to go to the store and buy milk, and I decided to spend it on Milky Way bars, which I ate, that is the definition of a misappropriation of money that was entrusted to me to spend in the way my mother wished and instructed me to do.
      To blame her for having the money in the first place is absurd. Even if she borrowed it. 

  11. Keller, revenue and spending go together. Each year the government spends more money than it has and never constrains its spending. If your cost of living each month was say 4k and your income from carpentry was 4k that would be ok even if you didnt save anything. Once your income became 3k, you would likely spend less, not go to Barbados, and cut back on your expenses or you would do more work, more carpentry to try to balance your spending. When the government spends it taxes its people and expects them to pay but even you might agree that people know how to spend their own money on their behalf better than the government does. Surely you would agree that Tisbury spending is not justified and taxes on people who live here is too high. Maybe not. Congress not Trump determines government spending and it has an insatiable appetite because it knows no one can stop it and the money will be found by taxing people. Keller, even you if you had the budget green sheets and went line by line on every cost and every increase in cost, could bring the spending down substantially.

    2. When it comes to Air Traffic Control the government knows how to spend my money than I do.
      Bridges and highways too.
      Tisbury is in the bottom ten percent for real estate taxes in Massachusetts.
      The reason that Tisbury has the highest tax rate on the Island is that they tend o draw people who live here year around, people with families and children in the schools. Tisbury needs more part time residents, people who Winter in high crime states like Florida, number three in the nation. Back the Blue.

    3. Andy– It seems we are in agreement on the basic idea about the revenue and spending by the government. Where we disagree is whether or not to ‘Voodoo economics” of the Regan administration actually work.
      The last time the federal government had a surplus was in the Clinton admin.
      Then Bush gave a trillion dollar tax cut to the wealthiest people, and it all went downhill from there. Look at the numbers
      But to get back on topic, this is not an issue about the deficit– it is about a rouge governor misappropriating federal funds for political gain.
      Can we agree on that ?
      I would have less of a problem with this if DeSantis was spending his own money because he cares so much about destitute people.

  12. So this is apparently what happened: this whole group of 48 refugees had just arrived in San Antonio, desperate after a 1-year long walk from Venezuela through unimaginable hardships. They had just been evicted from a 3-days-max-shelter, and were picked up from the gutter by Perla (hired and funded by DeSantis to do this very job), who immediately gave them the very best treatment (hotels, restaurants, clothes, personal stuff, toys – apparently everything they needed, even topped it off at departure with gift cards to MacDonalds).
    And she gave them information about immigration, a map showing Florida to the Vineyard, and another map showing the Vineyard with arrows indicating where they would land and be picked up by vans and taken to St. Andrews Church in Edgartown – a sanctuary for refugees, where they would immediately be given medical care, food and shelter, and help to continue their journey toward a better life.

    And Perla told them that their opportunities for getting what they need to restart their lives (medical care, immigration help, housing, work etc) would be immensely much better up north, and going first to the Vineyard would be the best of all.
    Perla knew 99.99% that this is what would happen – I mean, this is America, right? Of course this is what would happen anywhere they would have landed! And it is exactly what did happen. Right?

    But, tragically, what could have been a smooth and positive transition into their new lives, was quickly transformed into a nightmare of hatred and lies against DeSantis and Perla (with a $10,000 bounty on her head), accusing them of lying, luring, kidnapping, federal crimes, etc. The pressure on the refugees to agree with the lawyers’ assessment of the facts must have been immense, because millions of dollars hangs on their testimony.
    In their hearts, I’m sure every one of these refugees are deeply grateful to Perla and DeSantis. They have said she and her assistant were wonderful.

    Please, dear Mr. Galibois, I hope you really take into account what was best for this suffering group refugees, and how it all played out. From a human point of view, it was such a blessing for them.
    From a political point of view? I have no doubt that DeSantis fully intended to kick the Dems. But they all do that, Dems as much as Reps, and none of the them can be trusted to tell the truth.
    And we are the suckers who each pay how many thousands in taxes annually to pay for the immense cost of this corrupt and greedy government/corporate power grab, and for their stables of lawyers to keep them out of prison. And we know what lawyers charge. The bigger the story the higher the pay. What a racket it is!

    How many millions of taxpayers’ money was spent to get the 48 refugees to the Vineyard?
    Compared with how many millions of taxpayers’ money are being spent on this whole lawsuit?
    It’s all just an ugly political game for which We the People each pay how many thousands annually?
    I hope to God they drop the lawsuit.
    Or if not, I hope they lose.

    PS – The History: It seems that the US, led by US oil corporations, is entirely to blame for the collapse of Venezuela, something like this: With the development of oil by US oil companies et al, and Madura at the helm, Venezuela became a rapidly developing country. But when Madura felt cheated by an unfair deal, he nationalized the oil, and increased Venezuela’s share of the profits. The US put up sanctions against Venezuela and ordered its allies to do the same: stop buying oil from Venezuela. The result was economic chaos, collapse of public works, poverty, crime, corruption, until it became dangerous to stay there.
    These people fled their beloved countries and families and friends, and set out on a 1-year-long walk to the US, with unimaginable horrors along the way, and made their way to Florida. And then they were chosen to be the lucky ones.

    1. Well said! Let’s help people first. Compare the treatment of these immigrants to those in NYC sleeping on the streets with no support. I’d say the Vineyard group hit the lottery. Culture warriors will duke it out. Politicians will do what it takes to maintain power. But in the end, all we can do as lowly citizens and voters is to be kind to each other.

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