Refugees from Venezuela and Colombia arrived this afternoon at Martha's Vineyard Airport and were later taken to the regional high school for food and water. Ray Ewing
Posted on 09/14/2022 6:01:20 PM PDT by DoodleBob
Refugees from Venezuela and Colombia arrived this afternoon at Martha's Vineyard Airport and were later taken to the regional high school for food and water. Ray Ewing
A plane carrying approximately 48 migrants from Venezuela and Colombia landed unexpectedly at Martha’s Vineyard Airport Wednesday afternoon. Island officials and emergency management representatives were gathering to deal with the situation.
“We’re immigrants,” said Eliase, who said he was from Venezuela. “We came here because of the situation in our country, for the economy, for work, for lots of things. I came here walking. We went through 10 different countries until we got to Texas. There a refugee association put us in a plane and told us there would be work and housing here. I feel good, despite everything. We spent four days in Texas so it’s good to be here."
Assistant principal Jeremy Light helps provide a moment of normalcy. — Ray Ewing
Sen. Julian Cyr said the plane originated in San Antonio, Texas, and appeared to be part of a larger campaign to divert migrants from border states.
“Just like the reverse freedom rides in the 1960s, this endeavor is a cruel ruse that is manipulating families who are seeking a better life,” Senator Cyr said. “No one should be capitalizing on the difficult circumstances that these families are in and contorting that for the purposes of a “gotcha” moment.”
The passengers were taken to Martha's Vineyard Community Services before being relocated to the cafeteria at Martha's Vineyard Regional High School, where they were given water bottles and fruit cups. Children were playing with chalk on the sidewalk outside.
Buses arrived to take everyone to St. Andrews church. — Ray Ewing
“We are all kind of piecing the story together,” said schools superintendent Richie Smith. “We are providing water and food and things like that right now and trying to learn about the situation.”
Sheryl Taylor and Leah Palmer were coordinating interpreters at the high school cafeteria.
Ms. Taylor said most of the passengers appeared to be from Venezuela, but a few said they were from Colombia.
At an emergency meeting on Zoom, Edgartown Fire Chief Alex Shaeffer said the town of Edgartown would take the lead in housing the migrants overnight. The migrants were later transported by bus to St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Edgartown.
Refugees arriving at St. Andrews Church. — Ray Ewing
Rep. Dylan Fernandes, who joined the relief effort at St. Andrew’s Church, said the migrants were pawns in an political game.
"Some of them were told lies…they were told they would receive housing and jobs immediately upon arrival, ” he said.
Officials said there were indications more people could be on the way, but no additional planes had arrived by dark.
“It’s a humanitarian issue,"said Oak Bluffs Police Chief Jonathan Searle. "Right now we’re concerned with coordinating with state and federal officials."
Sen. Cyr said Gov. Charlie Baker had activated state emergency management resources and U.S. Rep. Bill Keating was in contact with the Department of Homeland Security.
“There’s a real herculean effort [underway] to make sure that these families have shelter and a roof over their head and a safe place to sleep tonight, and my understanding is that that’s happening. And that’s pretty remarkable, that that’s happening. It’s a real credit to Islanders,” Sen. Cyr said.
Chief Searle said local officials were not concerned about the immigration of status of the migrants. “That can be decided by the federal authorities," he said. "Some of them haven’t checked in with immigration, some of them explained that they hadn’t checked in with immigration in Texas and that they wanted to so they wouldn’t get in trouble.
"Hopefully they can provide them some long term shelter and we can figure it out," he added.
“They came with folders with a pamphlet with our information,” said Beth Folcarelli, chief executive officer of Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. “We don’t have refugee services, I had no idea about any of this. I only found out because one of them gave me their folder. Imagine being dropped in here knowing no one. Absolutely no one. It’s heartbreaking.”
Maria Sanchez Roa is a senior at MVRHS and was called in to help interpret. She was born in Columbia and takes AP Spanish.
“I was home watching Princess Diana videos when my mom burst through the door and told me to go to the high school. I’m here because I’m a Hispanic kid who speaks Spanish.”
Barbara Rush is helping to coordinate efforts at St. Andrew’s Church.
“In a typical Vineyard fashion, it is a community effort,” she said.
Thomas Humphrey and Noah Glasgow contributed reporting.
Fred, Edgartown
Wrong Eric. Any blame lays at the feet of President Biden. Thousands of people pour into the country daily and the federal government refuses to set any policy whatsoever other than the door is wide open. What's most amazing is that we have a serious humanitarian issue and the current administration has no idea what to do (anybody seen or heard from the border czar? Still no root causes). Blaming over run governors of border states who never claimed to be sanctuary havens is ignoring the problem. Wouldn't be refreshing if politics took a back seat and problem solving and bipartisanship took the fore. Obviously, I'm the naive one now.
September 14, 2022 - 7:40pm
Mark, Edgartown
Not in my back yard!
September 14, 2022 - 7:42pm
Was this the paper to which you referred elsewhere? This is great local reporting.
This is the one i heard about on the Howie Carr Show (a Boston talk show host) this afternoon. But I read that there were wetbacks from Florida too. Anyone know if that’s true...or is it just Texas?
Cultural enrichment.
Diversity will be MV strength!
A couple other NIMBYs, paraphrased: “Bringing the illegals to our home must be some kind of crime!”
Helen , Vineyard Haven
Now I see why they want a new giant school in Vineyard Haven and ASAP. I have been in tears for weeks over our taxes in VH going through the roof and worrying how to pay them, now this! I cant take much more, I senior citizen, alone and I am a 7th generation island native on a very fixed income.
September 14, 2022 - 8:49pm
Gail, Edgartown
What a mess our country is in… I feel bad for the people they are not the problem. It’s our poor leadership in Washington DC … Praying for change in November! And term limits for all!!
September 14, 2022 - 7:39pm
The people are the problem. They don’t have the right to be here.
I read in another article from FOX News that planeloads had also arrived from Florida, but this story appears to contradict that one.
There are a lot of fish at Martha's Vinyard. Give them each a pole, and tell them to fish for their supper. …
PLEASE,SEND MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE TO MARTHAS VINYARD.
HAPPY OBAMA SEND MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
SEND THEM TO DEMOCRAT STRONGHOLDS.
Bttt
Lots of the woke celebs have homes in the vineyard. David letterman, larry david, james taylor, spike lee, etc.
Who was that 60s hippy singer that was hangin’ with Jo Jo yesterday singing hymms to the Inflation Flatulence Act? Where is he from?
“We don’t have enough housing here”. Oh really? I guess the already high cost of housing on the island will get worse.
My comment was ‘not approved’
Hahaha. I like it, no, I’d love it. If two plane loads cause this much chaos, maybe for next time, Instead of driving during convenient daylight hours, do it in the middle of the night like the people of Texas have to deal with.
So when the Obiden administration lackeys send illegals via bus train and plane to Amarillo, or Cheyenne or Omaha, that is just fine since they have the permission of the feds.
But when a governor sends illegals to liberal enclaves like MV, then it isn’t OK?
We were on MV a month ago and there is a wonderful beach called the Inkwell, and has been seemingly set aside for blacks to swim.
So MV liberals like some minorities just not illegal minorities?
I left a comment, stating that it’s the liberal uncaring about the border states that is at the root of this.
We will see if they publish it.
Martha’s Vineyard has segregated beaches?
Oh, how sweet it is!!! All of the NIMBY Socialist Democrats are up in arms! Pitch some tents in Obama’s backyard! He’s the one who helped formulate the current debacle on our southern border!!!!
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