Illegal Immigrants Depart Martha’s Vineyard Two Days After Flown in by DeSantis
MARTHA’S VINEYARD (FLV) – NBC News reported that a group of 50 illegal immigrants flown into Martha’s Vineyard by Gov. Ron DeSantis are boarding buses to depart the island for Joint Base Cape Cod, around 30 miles away, just around two days after they arrived.
DeSantis reportedly sent two planes of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard Wednesday.
The group landed and walked 3.5 miles, sheltering temporarily at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Edgartown where they were provided beds, food and clothing.
In a statement, the Dukes County Emergency Management Association said the migrants are being provided safe, voluntary transportation from the Island to Joint Base Cape Cod by the Vineyard Transit Authority, Steamship Authority, and Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency.
Officials say the island communities are not equipped to provide sustainable accommodation, and state officials developed a plan to deliver a comprehensive humanitarian response.
The group is seen hugging volunteers as they began to board the buses.
Gov. Charlie Baker also plans to activate up to 125 members of the Massachusetts National Guard as part of the relief effort. It is unclear where they will go following their stay at the base in Cape Cod.
“They can end the crisis in 48 hours when it is on their doorstep, but won’t lift a finger for the communities suffering on the Southern Border. Amazing,” said Colorado Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert.
Martha’s Vineyard has a population of around 15,000. In Massachusetts, there are eight sanctuary cities: Amherst, Boston, Cambridge, Concord, Lawrence, Newton, Northampton and Somerville.
Fox News Digital obtained video showing migrants leaving planes at Martha’s Vineyard Airport in Massachusetts, which the governor’s communications director, Taryn Fenske, confirmed “were part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”
“States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as ‘sanctuary states’ and support for the Biden administration’s open border policies,” Fenske told Fox News Digital.
The Florida legislature approved $12 million to help transport illegal immigrants from the state, the governor’s office said. Fenske added that the program targets human smugglers and also preempts others from arriving illegally.
DeSantis said he is sending a message that Florida is not a sanctuary state.
“We’re not a sanctuary state. We don’t have benefits or any of that. There are some sanctuary jurisdictions and that would be better,” DeSantis said. “Now what would be best is for Biden to do is damn job and secure the border.”
Democrat candidate for governor Charlie Crist called a press conference to discuss the “horror” of DeSantis flying two planes of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard.
“It’s amazing to me what he’s willing to do for sheer political gain and to use people in this way,” Crist said. “When you are this inhumane in how you treat human beings, you’re not qualified to be governor of anything.”
