Does Gov. Ron DeSantis think it’s funny to send two planeloads of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard without notice? Just who is he trying to amuse?
Following Texas and Arizona
DeSantis’ office told CNN: “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.”
The move follows Texas and Arizona who began sending migrants to Washington, D.C., earlier this year. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott now has expanded the effort to New York City and Chicago.
Cheap headline grabbing
Cheap headline grabbing is what all three governors are doing. They also are doing human rights abusing. How awful to herd people who have a legal right to seek asylum onto buses and airplanes heading to disparate places with no advance warning to those receiving them.
But Martha’s Vineyard?
Come on. This seems like nothing more than one Republican governor trying to outpace another in outrageousness. Martha’s Vineyard is a resort community. The average home price there is $1 million. And the only emergency shelter has 10 beds. It doesn’t operate in the summer, though. The Vineyard residents, however, rushed to help the 50 migrants who arrived, these coming from Venezuela.
Border states and their troubles
It’s true that border states have difficulty caring for an influx of migrants. I’ve been to the border and seen it. Men, women and children often reach the border after a long trek across Mexico from the Triangle Countries and regions southward where they faced untold violence and poverty. They arrive with little in the way of resources. And they often need emergency shelter and legal help. Luckily limited aid is available, most often through church and other groups.
Can’t there be a better way?
Surely, well minded people can come up with a better solution than the added toll this transportation effort takes on the migrants and the communities in which they unexpectedly arrive. But well minded people don’t seem to be part of this scenario. There should be ways the federal government can step up to offer increased aid to the states dealing with this problem, while the asylum claims are settled.
Florida, a border state?
And, of course, Florida isn’t a border state. The Venezuelans sent to Martha’s Vineyard actually came through Mexico, where they waited before admission into the U.S., then were flown from San Antonio to Massachusetts. DeSantis’ involvement is a mystery.
And while the governors grab headlines, people are suffering and scrambling. It just isn’t right.