Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis took credit for the arrival of two planes of migrants, a spokesman told Fox News and a second on Twitter. “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,” Taryn Fenske, DeSantis’ director of communications, told Fox News Digital. The website showed videos of people getting off a plane and getting into a truck. He said the video depicted the migrants being sent from Florida. The Florida Legislature appropriated $12 million to move the immigrants out of the state under federal law, Fenske said. Our island has sprung into action, creating 50 beds, giving everyone a good meal, providing a play area for children, making sure people have the healthcare and support they need. We are a community coming together to support immigrants. pic.twitter.com/kG5bglhbLe —@RepDylan The border states of Texas and Arizona have since spring sent thousands of migrants to cities like New York, Chicago and Washington. While officials and activists in those cities have mobilized to help immigrants find housing, care and education for their children, Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser has declared a state of emergency for the development, which allows the city to establish a new immigration services office. . Martha’s Vineyard differs from these towns in that it is a summer vacation destination and a rural area with a year-round population of only 20,000. Business activity and employment opportunities decrease significantly in the winter months and it has a higher cost of living than many cities. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, said he had been in contact with local officials and was being offered short-term shelter. Massachusetts state representative Dylan Fernandes said on Twitter that the migrants arrived without warning from Texas. Reaction from Democratic congressman in Washington, DC: Massachusetts will warmly welcome immigrants who need shelter, beds, a hot meal & child support. We will treat them with dignity & respect, not harshly like DeSantis. He has become the face of a party that is not only selfish & evil but also morally bankrupt.https://t.co/3MDCHC2Iw3 —@RepMcGovern “Many don’t know where they are. They say they were told they would be given housing and jobs. The islanders were not notified, but they are coming together as a community to support them,” said Fernandes, a Democrat who represents Martha’s Vineyard. on Twitter. Democrats were also critical in Florida, with state Sen. Anna Escamani accusing DeSantis of scoring “political points for his base” and tweeting that the practice “continues to demonize already vulnerable communities.”
An increase in immigrants from Venezuela was reported
States cannot compel immigrants to move, so their consent is required. Some are accepting because the journey brings them closer to their destinations, although a MassLive.com report Wednesday said many Venezuelan and Colombian migrants who had arrived on Martha’s Vineyard did not know where they had landed. US border agents have made a record 1.8 million immigration arrests so far in fiscal year 2022, with many trying to cross multiple times, creating humanitarian challenges and political liability for President Joe Biden ahead of the Nov. 8 midterm elections. It’s an issue that has been highlighted by Republican politicians and the conservative media. Migrants, many from Venezuela, receive food in El Paso, Texas on Wednesday after being apprehended by US Border Patrol agents after crossing into the United States from Mexico. (Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters) Of those apprehensions at the southwest border, nearly a quarter were from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, up from 8% in 2021 and 3% in 2020. Most immigrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela who cross into the United States are allowed to stay to seek asylum, as they are difficult to deport due to frosty diplomatic relations with their respective governments. The sheer number has seen US border officials in El Paso, Texas, release hundreds of migrants onto city streets near shelters and bus stations to ease overcrowding at their facilities. Many of the arriving Venezuelans do not have family members or sponsors, further straining the charities and government agencies helping them, said Mario D’Agostino, El Paso’s deputy city manager.
US calls for end of Title 42, help from Mexico
The Biden administration is quietly pushing Mexico to take in more migrants from Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, seven US and three Mexican officials told Reuters in a report released on Wednesday. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken raised concerns about an escalating number of crossings by migrants from the three countries during a visit to Mexico City on Monday, two US and two Mexican officials told Reuters, but Mexico promised no specific action. Foreign Secretary Anthony Blinken and Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Embrad shake hands at the end of a news conference Monday in Mexico City. The US is increasingly seeking help from Mexico to deal with migrants traveling through multiple countries before applying for asylum in the US (Raquel Cunha/Reuters) Mexico is already taking back U.S. migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The Biden administration also publicly sought to end the health order, known as Title 42, which was issued in early 2020 under former Republican President Donald Trump as COVID-19 first raged. The order allows U.S. border authorities to quickly deport immigrants to Mexico or other countries without the opportunity to seek U.S. asylum. A federal judge appointed by Trump in Louisiana blocked the administration from ending the order earlier this year, even though US health officials said it was no longer necessary given the current state of the pandemic. Advocates and many Democrats strongly oppose Title 42, saying it encourages frequent attempts to cross between ports of entry since immigrants are not funneled into the refugee system. They also say it exposes them to dangerous conditions in Mexico, including kidnapping and extortion. More than 50 migrants died earlier this year in Texas, found in a tractor-trailer. Meanwhile, an increase over the past year in attempts by migrants to reach the US by water from the Caribbean has also been noted by immigration officials and think tanks.
