Gov. Charlie Baker (R) said the migrants would be offered “shelter and humanitarian support” in dormitory-style rooms at Joint Base Cape Cod in Bourne. State and local officials will also provide migrants with food, shelter and other services. Baker said he plans to activate up to 125 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to help with the relief effort. Florida Gov. Ron DeSandis (D) surprised federal and state officials Wednesday by sending migrants who recently crossed the U.S.-Mexico border to the affluent resort. The move is part of an ongoing campaign by DeSantis and other Republican governors in Texas and Arizona to send migrants to Democratic-leaning cities such as Washington, New York and Chicago to publicize the growing number of crossings this year at the southern border. Many immigrants might have ended up in these states anyway, but the unexpected arrivals captivate locals and send them scrambling to find supplies and shelter for the newcomers. Many of the migrants are from Venezuela, a South American nation mired in political and economic crisis, with shortages of food, water and electricity. In a speech at the Congressional Hispanic Institute’s annual gala Thursday night, Biden attacked Republicans. “Instead of working with us on solutions, Republicans are playing politics with human beings, using them as props,” he said. “What they’re doing is just wrong, it’s un-American, it’s reckless.” But Republicans defended the action, saying border cities were experiencing influxes in even greater numbers. Federal border agents have made nearly 2 million arrests at the southern border this fiscal year, surpassing last year’s total. “If there is a humanitarian crisis on Martha’s Vineyard, wouldn’t it make sense that there would be a drastically more significant humanitarian crisis on the southwest border?” House Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee said on Twitter on Friday. State and local politicians in Massachusetts praised the response on Martha’s Vineyard, an offshore island accessible only by air and sea, where volunteers went in droves to help the migrants when they showed up carrying maps and a few belongings. Some said they expected to arrive in a bigger city, close to public transport, rather than a small island of 20,000 people. The state said “island communities are not equipped to provide sustainable accommodation”. The military base is already being used as an emergency shelter, and officials said it can provide “safe temporary housing appropriate for the specific needs of families and individuals.” The facility also has space for access to legal services and health care. In the past, the base has sheltered Louisiana residents fleeing Hurricane Katrina and Massachusetts residents affected by Covid. “We are grateful to the providers, volunteers and local officials who have stepped up to Martha’s Vineyard over the past few days to provide immediate services to these individuals,” Baker said in a statement. “While Wednesday’s arrival on Martha’s Vineyard was unexpected, the emergency response was not,” said Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy. “The work of so many state and local partners exemplifies the best values of our Commonwealth, providing safe shelter, food and care to people who have been through a long and painful journey.” State officials said they had a plan to help migrants who decide to stay on base, including shelter, clothing, personal hygiene kits, goods and access to health care, mental health and counseling in their native language. The base is unable to accept donations, officials said. Molly Hennessy-Fiske in Houston and Joanna Slater in Williamstown contributed to this report.
