Migrant Flights to Martha’s Vineyard: Inhumane Political Stunt or Justified Relocation to Sanctuary Cities?
Summary from the AllSides News Team
Two Republican governors drew media attention on Thursday for sending migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts and Vice President Kamala Harris’ residence in Washington, D.C.
Without warning, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent dozens of mostly Venezuelan migrants on two chartered flights to Martha’s Vineyard, an island known for its wealthy liberal residents. The island declared a humanitarian crisis and mobilized to offer aid to the migrants. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also sent dozens of migrants to the vice president’s residence, the latest of thousands to arrive from Texas in the nation's capital.
Democrats strongly criticized the move, accusing DeSantis and other Republican governors of taking advantage of migrants for a political stunt. Much of the criticism centered around reports that migrants were misinformed about where they were being sent. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called it “disrespectful to humanity.” In the media, voices from the left tended to echo these criticisms.
Republicans, on the other hand, tended to praise the governors’ actions and describe criticisms from the left as overblown. “We are not a sanctuary state, and it's better to be able to go to a sanctuary jurisdiction, and yes, we will help facilitate that transport for you to be able to go to greener pastures,” DeSantis said Thursday. Media voices from the right echoed these sentiments, with one Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) columnist describing liberals as “wailing” over “50 illegal immigrants.”
Featured Coverage of this Story
From the Left
Ron DeSantis’s repulsive Martha’s Vineyard stunt is made for Fox NewsWhen Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed voting restrictions last year, he gave exclusive access to this glorious spectacle to Fox News. It was a twofer for the national right-wing audience, flaunting his relish of voter suppression while sticking it to mainstream Fake News outlets in the process.
Now DeSantis has produced another made-for-Fox moment: He is taking credit for delivering two planeloads of migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, where locals are scrambling to meet their needs. DeSantis’s staff apparently supplied exclusive video of these heroics to Fox: It shows the migrants, some children, disembarking from planes, and...
From the Center
Democrats and Republicans Actually Agree on These Immigration Views and PoliciesMany Americans see themselves as divided on immigration. Disagreements persist about family separation at the southern border, potential criminals entering the country illegally — and even how to describe people who enter the country without authorization.
But despite these perceived divisions, some recent surveys have found that many Republicans and Democrats share significant overlaps on immigration attitudes and policy issues.
Check out these surveys conducted since May 2020:
PRRI annual “American Values Survey” (survey published in October 2020)
76% of Americans opposed the family separation policy, including 91% of Democrats and...
From the Right
DeSantis was right to send migrants to Martha's Vineyard. We need to bring border crisis to DemocratsWhat should happen when the policies set by one set of people affect an entirely different set?
On Thursday night, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis sent two planes of illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts.
Taryn Fenske, the governor’s communications director, told Fox News, "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."
AllSides Picks
April 17th, 2024
April 22nd, 2024