DeSantis hints at migrant repeat
As the border crisis continues, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has raised the possibility of sending more migrants to Martha’s Vineyard.
The Republican governor made his remarks on Tuesday during an interview on a podcast hosted by Dana Loesch, according to Politico.
DeSantis made headlines in 2022 when dozens of migrants were flown to Martha’s Vineyard and left in the care of local officials and residents, who said they had no advance notice of their arrival. The DeSantis administration had sent the migrants to the island as part of a plan to relocate undocumented immigrants to so-called sanctuary states such as Massachusetts, a spokeswoman said at the time.
On Tuesday, DeSantis talked to Loesch about what Florida is doing to prevent migrants from arriving there illegally.
“Since January of 2023, the state of Florida has interdicted 660 vessels and repelled over 13,000 illegal aliens,” DeSantis said. “And that’s just the state of Florida’s vessels. The Coast Guard has been doing it as well.”
DeSantis said it’s “very important to interdict those vessels before they make landfall” because they can be turned away at sea but it become more problematic if they reach land.
“It’s a little bit different for a maritime state like us,” DeSantis said. “We really have to get them before they reach the shores, and that’s why we’re working so hard to do that. Although I will say this: We do have our transport program also that’s going to be operational. So Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard.”
Loesch then asked DeSantis if he had any immediate plans to send migrants to the Vineyard or other sanctuary states.
“Well, hopefully it doesn’t come to that,” DeSantis replied. “But I think that we’re going to be ready.”
On Sept. 14, 2022, charter planes landed at Martha’s Vineyard Airport, bringing 49 migrants to the island and thrusting Massachusetts into the national debate over immigration.
On Wednesday, US Representative Ayanna Pressley, cochair of the House Haiti Caucus, condemned DeSantis’s comments.
“That DeSantis would continue exploiting vulnerable families is unconscionable but unsurprising from a failed presidential candidate seeking to stay relevant,” the Massachusetts Democrat said in a statement.
“Families fleeing unspeakable violence in Haiti and other countries deserve to be met with compassion — not to be used as pawns in Republicans’ cruel political games,” she said.
Earlier this week, the representative urged the Biden administration to redesignate Haiti for Temporary Protected Status and pause deportation flights to Haiti until conditions improve there. “It is far past time to take federal action to stabilize Haiti and save lives,” Pressley said.