Lawsuit against DeSantis over migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard is back on

TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Undocumented migrants transported to Martha’s Vineyard from the southern border may revive a lawsuit against Gov. Ron DeSantis and other top and former officials in his administration, a federal judge ruled on Friday.

Earlier this month, a lawyer for the migrants and a group helping them asked for permission to refile the legal challenge against the Republican governor, alleging that nearly 50 migrants were misled as part of a publicity stunt pushed by the DeSantis administration. That case against DeSantis had initially been dismissed back in April.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs issued an order granting the motion. Her decision comes a day after lawyers for the governor — as well as DeSantis chief of staff James Uthmeier — told the court that they would not object to a revamped lawsuit. But the stipulation drawn up by both sides says attorneys for DeSantis can file new motions to dismiss the case as well as file a new motion to transfer the case to Florida. That agreement also lays out a timeline for the next steps in the case.