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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/migrant-flights-marthas-vineyard-floride-role-60-minutes-transcript/
A surge of migrants at the U.S./Mexico border has choked the country's immigration system. Over the last year, about 2 million migrants have been apprehended trying to cross into the U.S. Another 1,500 — seeking asylum — are allowed in every day. Shelters are overflowing, resources are stretched thin and lawmakers seem incapable of fixing it. There is no shortage of dysfunction or drama. But one episode on the border last year caught the attention of law enforcement. You may recall the story of the 50 migrants who were unexpectedly dropped off on the island of Martha's Vineyard, seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts. The migrants all had permission to be in the United States, pending asylum hearings, and were in Texas, but it was Florida officials who arranged the flights north. Tonight, you will hear about the investigation into those flights and why one sheriff says it was more than just a cruel political stunt, he says it was a crime.
In the early hours of September 14th, 2022, 50 migrants lined up on the tarmac of a military airfield in San Antonio, Texas and boarded two private jets. The flight manifest shows each plane carried 25 migrants. Six others who'd helped arrange the flights were also on board. Hours later, the migrants landed here, more than 2 thousand miles away, on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard.
Jackie Stallings: These people were exhausted and did not know what was going on. They just were terrified.
Sharyn Alfonsi: They really didn't know they were on an island or anything?
Jackie Stallings: They had no idea they were going-- coming to a small island.
A surge of migrants at the U.S./Mexico border has choked the country's immigration system. Over the last year, about 2 million migrants have been apprehended trying to cross into the U.S. Another 1,500 — seeking asylum — are allowed in every day. Shelters are overflowing, resources are stretched thin and lawmakers seem incapable of fixing it. There is no shortage of dysfunction or drama. But one episode on the border last year caught the attention of law enforcement. You may recall the story of the 50 migrants who were unexpectedly dropped off on the island of Martha's Vineyard, seven miles off the coast of Massachusetts. The migrants all had permission to be in the United States, pending asylum hearings, and were in Texas, but it was Florida officials who arranged the flights north. Tonight, you will hear about the investigation into those flights and why one sheriff says it was more than just a cruel political stunt, he says it was a crime.
In the early hours of September 14th, 2022, 50 migrants lined up on the tarmac of a military airfield in San Antonio, Texas and boarded two private jets. The flight manifest shows each plane carried 25 migrants. Six others who'd helped arrange the flights were also on board. Hours later, the migrants landed here, more than 2 thousand miles away, on the Massachusetts island of Martha's Vineyard.
Jackie Stallings: These people were exhausted and did not know what was going on. They just were terrified.
Sharyn Alfonsi: They really didn't know they were on an island or anything?
Jackie Stallings: They had no idea they were going-- coming to a small island.
