EXCLUSIVE: Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis kept his promise to let illegal immigrants into progressive states by sending two planes full of immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday. A video provided to Fox News Digital shows migrants disembarking from planes at Martha’s Vineyard Airport in Massachusetts. “Yes, Florida can confirm that the two planes of illegal immigrants that arrived in Martha’s Vineyard today were part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations,” the governor’s communications director, Taryn Fenske, told Fox News Digital. FLORIDA GOV. DESANTIS SAYS THERE ARE FUNDS TO ACCEPT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OUTSIDE HIS COUNTRY “States like Massachusetts, New York and California will make it easier to take care of these people they have invited into our country by encouraging illegal immigration through their designation as ‘sanctuary states’ and supporting the Biden administration’s open border policies.” “, he said. Illegal immigrants arrive at Martha’s Vineyard Airport in Massachusetts on September 14, 2022. (Video obtained by Fox News) “As you may know, this past legislative session the Florida legislature appropriated $12 million to implement a program to facilitate the removal of illegal immigrants from that state under federal law,” he added. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker’s office responded to an email from Fox News Digital after hours, saying it was aware of the situation and that the arrivals were being held at a short-term shelter. “The Baker-Polito administration is in contact with local officials regarding the arrival of immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard,” wrote Terry MacCormack, Baker’s spokesman. “Currently, short-term shelter services are being provided by local officials and the administration will continue to support these efforts.” Fox News Digital reported in April that Florida’s budget since passed by the state legislature included $12 million for the Florida Department of Transportation to remove illegal immigrants from the state and relocate them. Illegal immigrants arrive at Martha’s Vineyard Airport in Massachusetts on September 14, 2022. (Video courtesy of Fox News Digital) Martha’s Vineyard is known as the playground of wealthy progressives, including former President Barack Obama, who bought a multimillion-dollar home there in 2019. DeSantis, a Republican, suggested Delaware or Martha’s Vineyard as a destination for such immigrants, but his office explained at the time that they could also be sent “to other “progressive” states whose governors support flagrant violations of federal immigration law. immigration. TEXAS GAZETTE GREG ABBOTT DIRECTS USE OF BUSES FOR IMMIGRANT PROOF ON CAPITOL STEPS IN DC “It is not the responsibility of Floridians to subsidize aliens to reside in our state illegally; we did not consent to Biden’s open border agenda,” the governor’s office said at the time. In November, DeSantis said dozens of migrant flights landed in Florida at the behest of the Biden administration and threatened at the time to send them to Delaware on buses. Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters at a campaign stop on the Keep Florida Free tour at Horsepower Ranch in Geneva, Florida, on August 24, 2022. (Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, began sending thousands of illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C., in April as the immigration crisis gripped border states. In August, buses from Texas began heading to New York and Chicago. Arizona has also sent buses to Washington. Vice President Kamala Harris, who took over President Biden’s handling of the border crisis shortly after taking office in 2021, sparked a firestorm this week after twice saying the U.S. southern border was “secure,” while officials government officials estimate an average of 55,000 so-called “absconders” each month — illegal immigrants who successfully enter the country without being detained. Fox News’ Kyle Morris, Adam Shaw, Jon Brown and Matteo Cina contributed to this report. Jessica Chasmar is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected] and on Twitter: @JessicaChasmar.
