DeSantis Claims Credit As Dozens Of Venezuelan Migrants Arrive In Martha’s Vineyard

Topline

Around 50 migrants from Venezuela arrived in Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday after being flown into the affluent Massachusetts island resort by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis—part of a wider effort by Republican governors to send large number of undocumented immigrants to Democrat-run cities.

Key Facts

The group arrived in Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday afternoon onboard two planes with no prior notice, prompting a scramble by local authorities.

According to the New York Times, local officials and volunteers arranged Covid-19 tests, food and clothing for the group, which included children.

DeSantis’ office took credit for the arrival later on Wednesday with his communications director Taryn Fenske telling Fox News that they were sent as part of the state’s “relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”

The Times report notes that the migrants did not travel from Florida but instead from San Antonio, Texas despite being sent over by DeSantis.

Massachusetts’ Republican Governor Charlie Baker’s administration is in contact with local officials providing “short-term shelter services” to the migrants, the Times report added.

Chief Critic

State Rep. Dylan Fernandes, whose district includes Martha’s Vineyard, tweeted: “The Governor of one of the biggest states in the nation has been spending time hatching a secret plot to round up & ship people—children, families-lying to them about where [they’re]

going just to gain cheap political points on Tucker [Carlson] and MAGA twitter. It’s fucking depraved…These immigrants were not met with chaos, they were met with compassion. We are a community & nation that is stronger because of immigrants.”

Key Background

Republican run states like Texas and Arizona have bused thousands of undocumented Latin American immigrants to cities like New York, Chicago and Washington D.C.—so called “sanctuary cities.” The Republican governors of these states have accused the Biden administration’s policies for the rise in border crossings by undocumented individuals. Texas in particular has sent nearly 8,000 migrants to Washington D.C., prompting the city’s mayor to declare a public emergency. The Florida government has earmarked $12 million to bus migrants to Democrat-run states. DeSantis, who is seen as a potential 2024 Republican presidential candidate, has even threatened to send migrants to President Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware.

Further Reading

Florida Flies 2 Planeloads of Migrants to Martha’s Vineyard (New York Times)

Migrant workers land on Vineyard via Texas (The Martha’s Vineyard Times)