‘Simply wrong’: White House condemns migrant flight to Martha’s Vineyard
A group of migrants that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has flown unannounced from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard have been flown from the island to a large reception operation supported by state agencies on Cape Cod.
According to Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker’s office, the agencies are “coordinating efforts among state and local officials to ensure access to food, shelter and essential services for these men, women and children.”
The governor also plans to activate up to 125 members of the Massachusetts National Guard.
DeSantis reportedly told a roomful of Republican donors at a fundraising event about his plans days before the island welcomed 50 migrants, including families with children, most of whom initially fled Venezuela.
The White House has condemned the governor’s “deeply alarming” stunt, and immigration advocates and lawyers have suggested the governor facilitated his kidnapping. Officials are asking the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate.
Federal officials are expected to discuss “litigation options” in response.
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DeSantis administration paid airline $615,000 to fly migrants, Miami-Herald finds
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration paid an airline $615,000 to secure flights from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard as part of the state’s $12 million budget line to remove migrants of the state
The Miami-Herald reports that Oregon-based Vertol Systems Company Inc, which has operations in Florida, was paid Sept. 8.
The flights originated from San Antonio, Texas this week.
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 6:30 p.m
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Migrants arrive at Joint Base Cape Cod
After tears, cheers and goodbyes as they left Martha’s Vineyard off the coast of Massachusetts, a group of migrants sent to the island by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis arrived at a larger shelter on the mainland on Cape Cod shortly after noon on Friday.
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 6:01 p.m
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According to officials, the migrants voluntarily moved to a shelter on Cape Cod, despite the GOP narrative
The group of migrants that left Martha’s Vineyard was voluntarily moved to a large shelter operation on Cape Cod, advocates and officials have stressed.
The right-wing media and members of the DeSantis administration have wanted to call his departure from the island hypocritical.
The migrants received clothing, bedding and toys for the children, as well as cell phones thanks to Martha’s Vineyard Community Services, according to the Martha’s Vineyard Gazette.
Immigration lawyers also accompanied migrants to Cape Cod from the island.
According to Gov. Charlie Baker’s office, the Joint Base Cape Cod facility is much larger than the shelter offered on the island, with comprehensive health services, separate rooms for families and infrastructure existing to support people who need it, including legal aid and advice.
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 5:45 p.m
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Scenes from the departure of migrants from Martha’s Vineyard to Cape Cod
“Tears, cheers, screams, hugs and photos” were shared on Martha’s Vineyard Friday morning as the group of 50 migrants who arrived on the island said goodbye to the volunteers and residents who helped welcome them- los after his surprise arrival this week.
The Martha’s Vineyard Gazette reports that the group boarded Vineyard Transit Authority buses to a ferry that took them to Joint Base Cape Code on the Massachusetts mainland, where a large shelter operation is based.
The group spent two nights at the Episcopal Church of Sant Andreu on the island.
“Get everyone together – I want to meet everyone who helped me!” a man named Rafael shouted to the volunteers as they left. “Thanks everyone! Blessings to everyone!”
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 4:59 p.m
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Migrant families being offered relocation to Cape Cod shelter, state lawmaker reports
State Representative Dylan Fernandes, who represents Martha’s Vineyard in the State House, reports that families are being offered relocation to the newly announced shelter on Cape Cod.
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 4:30 pm
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‘Playing politics with human beings’: Biden slams GOP governors’ migrant flights
Speaking at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute’s annual gala Thursday night, Joe Biden blasted GOP governors less than a day after Greg Abbott sent two busloads of asylum seekers from South America and Center in Washington and Ron DeSantis funded a planeload of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts.
“Republicans are playing politics with human beings, using them as props,” Biden said.
The Independent’s Andrew Feinberg on the White House reaction:
Biden slams GOP governors’ migrant flights: ‘Playing politics with human beings’
“Kids…deserve better to be left on the streets of DC or left on Martha’s Vineyard”
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 4:15 p.m
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Republicans sent migrants to Martha’s Vineyard to stoke panic. Instead, residents reacted with kindness
The arrival of 50 migrants on Martha’s Vineyard, known as a summer getaway for wealthier Americans with a relatively small, tight-knit community of permanent residents, has galvanized communities across the island off the coast of Massachusetts, providing immediate shelter and relief for a group. of individuals and families fraudulently picked up on planes outside of Texas, more than 2,000 miles away, at taxpayer expense.
The effort, of course, is intended to paint perceived liberal elitism on the nation’s East Coast as hypocritical, protesting what the American right characterizes as an “open border” that facilitates immigration “il ·legal’ in the US, while holding President Biden responsible for the cruelty on the southern side of the US-Mexico border because he has invited migrants there.
But advocacy groups and lawyers have criticized the administration not for allegedly inviting migrants to the United States, but because of a byzantine process for seeking asylum or legal entry, with thousands of people denied hearings.
Republican governors are ‘making chaos’ and ignoring asylum seekers in a broken immigration system, advocates tell The Independent’s Alex Woodward:
‘Depraved’ trick reveals GOP self-created migrant crisis, advocates say
The arrival of 50 migrants galvanized communities on the island as Republican governors “manufacture chaos” and ignore asylum seekers in a broken immigration system, advocates tell Alex Woodward.
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 3:45 p.m
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Massachusetts Governor Activates National Guard
Gov. Charlie Baker announced plans to activate the National Guard amid relief efforts his administration is providing to support 50 migrants Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis airlifted to Martha’s Vineyard.
“The island communities are not equipped to provide sustainable shelter, and state officials developed a plan to provide a comprehensive humanitarian response,” said Mr. Baker in a statement released Friday.
The response includes opening a shelter with meals, medical and counseling services at Joint Base Cape Code, located north of the mainland island.
Johanna Chisholm of The Independent reports:
The National Guard has been activated to assist the migrants DeSantis is transporting to Martha’s Vineyard
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said his administration plans to activate up to 125 members of the state’s National Guard as part of a relief effort.
Alex Woodward September 16, 2022 3:34 p.m
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DeSantis could be charged with kidnapping after taking migrants to Martha’s Vineyard
California Gov. Gavin Newsom has tapped the Justice Department to investigate whether Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial decision to send two flights of migrants north amounted to a “hijacking.”
“I strongly urge the US Department of Justice (DOJ) to open an investigation into potential criminal or civil violations of federal law based on this alleged fraudulent scheme,” Governor Newsom wrote in a Sept. 15 letter to the attorney general. of the United States, Merrick Garland.
The Democratic governor, who many speculate could run for president in 2024, quickly turned his emotional response to the new story into a political one by expressing concern to the Justice Department that the Republican governor’s actions they might not just be “morally reprehensible”. ” but “illegal”.
“Some of the individuals who were transported to Martha’s Vineyard have alleged that a recruiter induced them to accept the travel offer based on false representations that they would be transported to Boston and receive expedited access to the work,” Newsom wrote.
Read the full report by The Independent’s Johanna Chisholm here:
DeSantis could be charged with kidnapping after taking migrants to Martha’s Vineyard
California Governor Gavin Newsom is asking the DoJ to “investigate whether the alleged fraudulent inducement would support kidnapping charges under relevant state laws.”
Johanna Chisholm September 16, 2022 3:15 p.m
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Massachusetts to open new shelter at Joint Base Cape Cod
Massachusetts will open a new shelter with additional humanitarian aid at Joint Base Cape Cod to help house the group of migrants that was sent by Ron DeSantis to Martha’s Vineyard this week.
The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is “coordinating efforts among state and local officials to ensure access to food, shelter and essential services for these men, women and children,” according to a statement from the office from Governor Charlie Baker.
The governor also plans to activate up to 125 members of the Massachusetts National Guard.
Individuals and families will stay in dormitory-style spaces on the base, which has historically served as…