50 migrants taken to Martha’s Vineyard by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis 03:10
Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis flew two planes of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday, escalating a tactic by Republican governors to draw attention to what they see as the Biden administration’s failed border policies. The flights to the luxury island enclave in Massachusetts were part of an effort to “transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations,” said Taryn Fenske, DeSantis’ director of communications. Although DeSantis’ office did not specify their legal status, many immigrants who cross the border illegally from Mexico are temporarily protected from deportation after being released by U.S. authorities to seek asylum in immigration courts — as allowed by U.S. law and international treaty — or released on humanitarian parole. Terry McCormack, a spokesman for Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, said in a statement that the state executive was “in contact with local officials regarding the arrival of immigrants on Martha’s Vineyard.” “Currently, short-term shelter services are being provided by local officials and the administration will continue to support these efforts,” McCormack said. A woman, who is part of a newly arrived immigrant group, holds a child as she is fed outside St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Massachusetts, on Martha’s Vineyard. Ray Ewing/AP State Rep. Dylan Fernandes, who represents Martha’s Vineyard, tweeted: “Our island jumped into action by creating 50 beds, giving everyone a good meal, providing a play area for children, making sure people have health care and support they need. We are a community coming together to support immigrants.” Martha’s Vineyard’s Island Wide Regional Emergency Management said in a statement Wednesday afternoon that “approximately 50 people, we understand to be of Venezuelan origin, landed at the Martha’s Vineyard Airport, seeking shelter.” Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Massachusetts, on Martha’s Vineyard. Ray Ewing/AP “City emergency management operations from the island’s six cities and the Sheriff’s Office, as well as the County Command are actively working together to develop a coordinated regional response,” the statement said, adding that “two emergency shelters have been established in local churches of the island, with additional space available in case of further arrivals.” Emergency management teams “had reached out to our state and federal partners for additional and long-term support and assistance.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott began busing thousands of migrants to Washington in April and recently added New York and Chicago as destinations. Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has been taking immigrants to Washington since May. Passengers must sign waivers that free travel is voluntary. Gov. Greg Abbott vows to keep busing immigrants to sanctuary cities 02:00 DeSantis, who has been tipped as a possible presidential contender, appears to be taking the strategy to a new level by using planes and choosing Martha’s Vineyard, whose port towns of about 15,000 people are far less prepared than New York or Washington for big things. immigrant inflows. CBS Boston reported that the group of immigrants wandered about three and a half miles from the airport in Edgartown, where Barbara Rush, of St. Andrews, said, “Martha’s Vineyard Community Services had 50 people literally walk up to their front door. “ CBS News immigration reporter Camilo Montoya-Galvez notes that, unlike the other cities Republican governors have chosen as destinations for immigrants, Martha’s Vineyard is not an urban, metropolitan area with a strong infrastructure of social services: There are no major organizations refugee or immigrant services on the island. There is no Justice Department immigration court where immigrants can attend asylum hearings. There is no ICE field office where immigrants can check in. As it was not a top destination for recent arrivals, the flights will also raise questions about whether all the migrants taken there on Wednesday knew where they were going. Regardless, the move is likely to please DeSantis’ supporters who deride immigrant- and Democrat-friendly “sanctuary” cities and critics who say he is arming immigrants as pawns for political gain. History does not take kindly to leaders who treat people like cargo, loading them up and sending them a thousand miles away without telling them their destination. However, Florida @GovRonDeSantis made that choice today. — Congressman Bill Keating (@USRepKeating) September 15, 2022 “History does not look kindly on leaders who treat people like cargo, loading them up and sending them a thousand miles away without telling them their destination,” warned Rep. Bill Keating, D-Mass. The Florida Legislature appropriated $12 million to transport “illegal immigrants” out of the state, according to federal law, Fenske said. “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.” Fenske said. . More
