Migrants shipped from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard this week can be moved at present to a army base on Cape Cod, which Gov. Charlie Baker mentioned is healthier outfitted to satisfy their housing, meals and primary wants.
Baker mentioned the transfer to a short lived shelter at Joint Base Cape Cod can be voluntary for the Venezuelan immigrants who had been flown to the island neighborhood Wednesday on the orders of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
“We are grateful to the providers, volunteers and local officials that stepped up on Martha’s Vineyard over the past few days to provide immediate services to these individuals,” Baker mentioned in an announcement.
“Our administration has been working across state government to develop a plan to ensure these individuals will have access to the services they need going forward, and Joint Base Cape Cod is well-equipped to serve these needs,” he added.
Baker mentioned he plans to activate 125 members of the Massachusetts National Guard to assist within the humanitarian response.
Individuals and households can be housed in dormitory-style areas on the army base in Cape Cod, a MEMA-designated emergency shelter that additionally offered refuge for Louisiana residents fleeing the impacts of Hurricane Katrina.
Families won’t be separated, Baker mentioned.
A Massachusetts state senator who spoke with the migrants, Julian Cyr, advised the Herald Thursday that just below 50 individuals had been in a shelter in San Antonio after they had been approached and provided housing, job search help and a airplane trip to Boston.
Cyr mentioned one lady advised him she felt like she was kidnapped, and the individuals he spoke with famous they’d no thought the place they had been going after they stepped onto the airplane. He likened the scenario to human trafficking.
The migrants’ surprising arrival drew a swift response from Martha’s Vineyard residents, native and state officers, who labored collectively to create momentary shelter and supply requirements in a “moment of urgent need,” Baker mentioned.
U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins advised reporters Thursday her workplace is wanting into how DeSantis despatched the obvious asylum seekers to Martha’s Vineyard from Texas with out notifying the state authorities or officers on the island.
The AP reported the governors of Texas and Arizona have despatched 1000’s of migrants on buses to New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C in latest months.
DeSantis mentioned the 2 flights to Martha’s Vineyard, paid for by Florida, had been a part of an effort to “transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations.”
“While Wednesday’s arrival on Martha’s Vineyard was unexpected, the extraordinary response was not,” Public Safety and Security Secretary Terrence Reidy mentioned in an announcement.
“The work of so many state and local partners exemplify the best values of our commonwealth, providing safe shelter, food and care for individuals that had been through a long, harrowing journey.”
MEMA is coordinating with state businesses and nonprofits to make sure the immigrants have entry to a broad vary of companies, together with authorized, well being care, meals and different wants.
Source: www.bostonherald.com”