Ron DeSantis sends two planes of illegal immigrants to Martha's Vineyard
By Jessica Chasmar | Fox News
https://i.imgur.com/BTmOSb1.png
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis followed through on his promise to drop off illegal immigrants in progressive states, sending two planes full of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard on Wednesday.
A video provided to Fox News Digital shows the migrants deboarding the planes at Martha’s Vineyard Airport in Massachusetts.
"Yes, Florida can confirm the two planes with illegal immigrants that arrived in Martha’s Vineyard today were part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations," the governor’s communications director, Taryn Fenske, told Fox News Digital.
"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," she said.
"As you may know, in this past legislative session the Florida legislature appropriated $12 million to implement a program to facilitate the transport of illegal immigrants from this state consistent with federal law," she added.
The office of Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker responded to an after-hours email from Fox News Digital, saying it was aware of the situation and that the arrivals were provided short-term shelter.
"The Baker-Polito Administration is in touch with local officials regarding the arrival of migrants in Martha’s Vineyard," Terry MacCormack, Baker's press secretary, wrote. "At this time, short-term shelter services are being provided by local officials, and the Administration will continue to support those efforts."
Fox News Digital reported in April that Florida’s budget since approved by the state legislature included $12 million for the Florida Department of Transportation to remove illegal immigrants from the state and relocate them.
https://i.imgur.com/mgFPfEs.png
Martha's Vineyard is famously known as a playground of rich progressives, including former President Barack Obama, who bought a multimillion-dollar house there in 2019.
DeSantis, a Republican, proposed Delaware or Martha’s Vineyard as a destination for such migrants, but his office explained at the time that they could also be sent "to other 'progressive' states whose governors endorse blatant violations of federal immigration law."
"It is not the responsibility of Floridians to subsidize aliens to reside in our state unlawfully; we did not consent to Biden’s open-borders agenda," the governor’s office said at the time.
In November, DeSantis said dozens of migrant flights landed in Florida at the behest of the Biden administration, and he threatened at that time to send them to Delaware on buses.
Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, began sending thousands of illegal immigrants to Washington, D.C., in April as the migrant crisis overwhelmed border states. In August, buses from Texas started heading to New York City and Chicago. Arizona has also sent buses to Washington.
Vice President Kamala Harris, who was put in charge of tackling the border crisis by President Biden shortly after they assumed office in 2021, sparked a firestorm this week after she twice declared the U.S. southern border is "secure" while administration officials estimate an average of 55,000 so-called "gotaways" each month — illegal immigrants who successfully make it into the country without being detained.
Martha's Vineyard begs for help after illegal aliens flown in from Florida
Ari Hoffman - The Post Millennial
https://i.imgur.com/elOLPbH.png
Authorities on Massachusett's tony island Martha's Vineyard are now asking for volunteers to help with the "unexpected urgent humanitarian situation," after Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis sent two planes full of illegal alients to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, a state that has supported the Biden administration’s open-border policies.
The Dukes County Emergency Management Association posted on Twitter Wednesday night, “Due to an unexpected urgent #humanitarian situation, #DCEMA are opening #Emergency #Shelters tonight on #MarthasVineyard. If you’re willing & able to volunteer in a clinical or non-clinical role, contact @DukesOffice at 508-684-8015 #VolunteersNeeded #HumanitarianAid #DukesCounty”
According to a local CBS affiliate, “Emergency shelters are being set up on Martha's Vineyard after just 50 migrants landed on the island unexpectedly Wednesday afternoon.”
Video footage showed migrants deplaning and being loaded onto buses.
According to Gov. DeSantis’ press team, the two planes were "part of the state’s relocation program to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations."
In a statement, DeSantis' office said, "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."
Florida previously set aside $12 million to "implement a program to facilitate the transport of illegal immigrants from this state consistent with federal law."
DeSantis’ office said that the program "targets both human smugglers found in Florida and preempts others from entering."
In April, DeSantis identified both Martha's Vineyard and Wilmington, Delaware, Biden's home state, as potential destinations for illegal aliens who cross the border into Florida. His office added at the time that illegal aliens could be sent "to other 'progressive' states whose governors endorse blatant violations of federal immigration law."
"It is not the responsibility of Floridians to subsidize aliens to reside in our state unlawfully; we did not consent to Biden’s open-borders agenda," the governor’s office said.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Arizona Governor Doug Ducey have been sending busloads of illegal immigrants to sanctuary cities across the US, including Chicago, New York City, and Washington, DC.
Martha’s Vineyard Slammed After Migrants Removed In Under 48 Hours: ‘Someone Else’s Problem Now’
Daily Wire Staff Report
Martha’s Vineyard was slammed late this week after videos emerged showing the 50 illegal immigrants being removed from the island after they were flown there by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R).
The move by DeSantis ignited what turned into this week’s top national news story as Democrats falsely accused the governor of potentially having engaged in kidnapping and human trafficking.
The illegal immigrants boarded two busses and headed off to Joint Base Cape Cod, where they will be greeted by 125 National Guard troops who were activated to assist.
Donald Trump Jr. responded, “It took less than 24 hours for the libs to kick these illegal immigrants out of Martha’s Vineyard, but Biden won’t lift a finger to deport the thousands of illegals pouring through the southern border daily out of the country.”
New York Times columnist Ross Douthat said that the point of sending the illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard was to “provoke a huge mobilization” from the National Guard to “imply a contrast with a liberal White House failing to help border communities dealing with a far larger influx.”
“DeSantis really exposed these hypocrites,” popular YouTuber Tim Pool commented.
“I thought Martha’s Vineyard was a ‘sanctuary city’?” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) mocked. “I thought they declared themselves a ‘haven’ for illegal immigrants?? Just 50 arrive, and the socialist billionaires send them away—to a military base, no less—in JUST 24 hours.”
Eric Schmitt, who is Missouri’s Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, wrote: “Something, something ‘In this house we believe…’ Something, something…Ukraine flag.”
“In the end, the Leftist liberal elite anthem is a word salad of virtue signaling defined by next level hypocrisy,” he added.
“Unfreakingbelievable,” attorney A.J. Delgado tweeted. “Are all the virtue-signaling posts, about how ‘we took them in, we stepped up and came together to help!’ going to be removed now?”
“The wealthy elites on the Vineyard couldn’t stand to have the undesirables there for more than 2 days, so they shipped them off to a military base,” former Trump official Monica Crowley wrote on Twitter. “Someone else’s problem now. Back to the Chardonnay!”
Fighter Jon Fitch responded: “Martha’s Vineyard might be the most racist place in America. They called the national guard over 50 non-white people. Gross.”
New York Times “Women’s Work” writer Megan K. Stack wrote: “Whatever the surrounding circumstances, calling in the National Guard for 50 people really does look terrible. It’s also awful to see people marched past the cameras. This whole stunt is dehumanizing and humiliating.”