Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, shown here during a reservoir ribbon cutting event in January, cited Martha's Vineyard as a potential undocumented immigrant destination. —Courtesy of Office of Gov. Ron D

Updated March 23

On a conservative radio show, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently floated the idea of sending Haitian asylum seekers who might arrive in his state to Martha’s Vineyard. 

The former presidential candidate made the comment during an interview with Dana Loesch, a radio and podcast host, on Tuesday, March 19. 

“We do have our transport program that is going to be operational,” DeSantis said. “So, Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard.”

DeSantis, of course, has sent asylum seekers to the Island before, and he also broadcast that idea before following through with the political stunt. 

In September 2022, dozens of South American asylum seekers were flown to the Island unannounced from Texas, after being lured aboard chartered planes, which DeSantis took credit for. Several months before, DeSantis had proposed spending $8 million to send undocumented immigrants out of Florida through contractors, with one of the possible locations being Martha’s Vineyard.

On the Island, though, it doesn’t seem there are any moves to send asylum seekers, at least for now. Martha’s Vineyard Airport Director Geoff Freeman said there have been no planes recently chartered from Florida to the Island, although he pointed out the airport does not receive information of who is aboard a private plane beforehand. 

Nearly a year after DeSantis’ original political stunt, Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois announced that he would be launching an investigation into the flights. When reached by The Times for an update on Wednesday, March 20, Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office public relations director Danielle Whitney said the matter was ultimately referred to the U.S. Department of Justice. A representative from the Department of Justice was not immediately available for comment. 

Whitney told the Times it was not the role of the district attorney to speculate about DeSantis’ recent comments on the Loesch show. “The District Attorney’s Office investigates matters as they arrive,” she said. 

Immigration attorney and Islander Rachel Self, who is a part of a legal effort to bring charges against DeSantis, heavily criticized the Florida governor for the recent comments, although she said she wasn’t surprised. 

“The last time he pulled a stunt like this — and it is nothing more than a stunt, and by now a hackneyed one, at that — it garnered him a great deal of press,” she said. “Now that his presidential campaign has died almost before it began, no doubt he is hungry for a little more national profile.”

“It is also no surprise at all that he continues to do this — because he has never been punished for it,” Self continued. 

According to the U.N. Population Fund, Haiti has reached “terrifying levels” of lawlessness and violence, with 15,000 people becoming displaced since February, adding to the 362,000 people already displaced within the country. According to the International Rescue Committee, the humanitarian crisis in Haiti has been escalated by violent gang rivalries over the control of the capital, Port-au-Prince. Even before the more recent string of violence erupted, the U.S. Department of State has warned people not to travel to Haiti since March 2020, and has been working to get Americans out of the country. 

According to a March 13 press release from DeSantis’ office, the Florida governor deployed over 250 law enforcement officers and soldiers to the Florida Keys and the state’s southern waters in anticipation of an influx of Haitians attempting to escape the violence in their country.

Updated with comments from Rachel Self. 

55 replies on “DeSantis floats sending asylum seekers to M.V.  ”

    1. It was a brilliant move politically. It got the entire nation to confront the situation and bring it to the forefront. The mainstream media didn’t cover the problem for 2 years. Sanctuary cities like MV complained that they couldn’t deal with the migrants as it was too big a strain on their resources. But those who encouraged migrants to come no longer want to bear responsibility for their political stunt to invite all these people knowing we can’t afford to welcome them. Yes, MV has a housing crisis but guess what sows doe the rest of the country. Sanctuary cities and states are now recognizing that they have a huge problem with housing, crime, squatters, healthcare and a host of other overpopulation issues. So until the liberals on MV are ready to swallow their pride and admit they are wrong on open borders I see no reason why MV shouldn’t share in the same problems that the rest of the country. Try to keep up.

      1. I completely agree.
        DeSantis’s “stunt” was very successful.
        It effectively focused minds.
        Now the whole country knows we have a very serious problem on our hands.
        As someone in Arizona said, All states are now border states.

      2. Twenty percent of the people living on Martha’s Vineyard are Brazilian immigrants, compared to Florida’s rate of 21 percent immigrants. DeSanctis made a very stupid move that showed how ignorant he is about parts of America outside Florida, but even worse for his political future was his blatant display of divisive, meanspirited, petulant and cruel governance.

        MV is part of America after all, and we are all fellow Americans. While MV didn’t “invite all these people”, we also didn’t get all freaked out and resort to desperate measures to eradicate immigrants looking for a better life just because they chose our community.

        DeSanctis’ stunt is meant to deflect attention away from his incompetence as a leader which is demonstrated by his failure to effectively deal with the problems that his base perceive to be a plague in his home state. This man only knows how to deflect and pander to his base by attacking communities perceived to be “liberal,” reigning hate and retribution on another part of the country simply for a perception that MV is of a different political opinion.

        MV successfully copes with the same issues which DeSanctis hasn’t been able to figure out. DeSanctis resorts to attacking the blue team to please the red team because he lacks both compassion and the ability to fairly govern over the whole of the people as a State united.

  3. The idiocy crisis in the U.S has been escalated by idiotic gang rivalries over the control of the capital, Washington D.C . Even before the more recent string of idiocy erupted, the NAACP warned people not to travel to Florida since May of 2023 and have been working to get Americans out of the insane asylum that is Florida.

  5. Not sure where Ron’s looking but according to the states sanctuary towns I don’t see Martha’s Vineyard listed.” There are eight cities in the state that are sanctuary cities. They are Amherst, Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Concord, Newton, Northampton, and Somerville.” We have kids born here that have to live with their parents due to the housing shortage. It seems mean spirited to send more people here where there is no housing. Anyone else agree?

    1. Jean– Mean spirited does not even come close to the hatred
      and racism that is behind this kind of political stunt.
      But the sad truth is that most people have no idea what
      a sanctuary city is, or how the laws regarding the assimilation
      of asylum seekers into our country are implemented and enforced.

    2. Jean, Paris officials severely restricted short-term rentals as one tool to save the character of some neighborhoods and to keep permanent residents. Should we do the same?
      And yes, you’re right, it’s cruel to use human beings as pawns in a political game.

      1. Allowing AirBnB and other similar short-term rental thingies on MV for housing units (as opposed to renting merely a few rooms in a person’s home in the style of a traditional B and B) was a huge mistake.
        AirBnB has majorly distorted housing markets everywhere it has reared its head.
        Anyone serious about solving the Island’s housing problems should start with the low-hanging fruit: Campaign to end AirBnB and others of the ilk for short-term rentals of houses and apartments.
        See, for example:
        https://www.wired.com/story/airbnb-ban-new-york-city/

          1. It doesn’t really matter what I think.

            I am stating the facts about AirBnB (which, per a long article in Vanity Fair some years ago, is basically a bank; I expect the same is true of all of these services that bank “guests'” funds for rentals weeks or months before they have to be paid out to the “host”).

            Other communities have taken action to prevent the AirBnB scourge of their housing markets.

            MV wails constantly about the housing crisis and then goes and does something this stupid and counterproductive. Oh, then the idea is to use the AirBnB tax to purchase or build affordable housing . . .

            Ever heard of robbing Peter to pay Paul?

            Probably not unless you are not a quilter.

    3. Jean fair point. However, Mass may not have codified being a sanctuary state their government absolutely provides protection to illegal immigrants while providing very generous benefits to those who chose to come here illegally thereby encouraging illegal behavior.
      A direct quote from the following link:

      https://www.aclum.org/en/issues/immigrants-rights

      “In 2017, the ACLU of Massachusetts contributed to a case addressing whether local and state officials who hold undocumented immigrants on “ICE detainer” are in violation of the Massachusetts state constitution and the U.S. Constitution. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Judicial Court decided that our state and local law enforcement do not have the legal authority to detain people on ICE detainers alone.”

      So one could argue this is what you voted for and are currently encouraging. You can’t promise people to come here but then say sorry we don’t have the resources to take care of you. MV is one of the wealthiest places on earth but has demonstrated that they will not build affordable housing for their current residents in fear of changing the island. So if you don’t want to change where you live why would you expect others to change how they live. Yes, it feels good to say we need to help people but you the can expect everyone else to do the hard work. When I see I high rise building on MV dedicated to public housing then I’ll reconsider my position.

  6. Please send them, 85% of the voters on the island support sanctuary cities! Send them all to the island. I love this. Thanks Ron!

      1. No, and that ‘85% support’ number was definitely pulled from the Twilight Zone, because it doesn’t sound like most working year-rounders here that I know-

      2. Yes we are that “dumb”, as indicated by election results.
        What amazes is why the few smart one’s continue to wallow in this anti-MAGA pit.

          1. I made no mention of Republicans.
            The majority of Trump supporters are MAGA, not many are Republicans, MAGAs had little interest politics, hadn’t voted often, until someone just like them ran.
            That guy lives rent free in MAGA heads. You just have to buy the sneakers and a $50 a month life time donation to Patriots For Trump.

  7. Looking at these comments, it seems the island does not walk the talk. They should be embracing wanting to help the Haitians out and welcoming them to the island. If they do arrive here, I wonder if we can beat our record on getting them off the island as quickly as the last group that was sent here.

  9. You are correct! Plus elections have serious consequences big time!
    Hell, look at all the McMansions sitting empty most of the year. Obviously they could care less as they definitely cannot all be Trump, “Make America Great Again” voters!
    Those homes could be an excellent place for all the squatters throughout our country reported on certain nightly news channels. Seems like that has been a growing epidemic especially in sanctuary blue states which I believe we fall into that category.

    I could be wrong and I am sure I will be corrected if I am mistaken but I believe that In 2017, Massachusetts’ top state court ruled that Massachusetts court officers do not have the authority to arrest someone suspected of being in the U.S. illegally if that person is not facing criminal charges, the state’s highest court ruled. That effectively gave the state sanctuary status.

  10. de santis ( notice the lack of capital letters in his name…. Small letters denote the thinking of a small, vindictive man!) is clearly uneducated when it comes to the facts of Vineyard living. He seems to think our island community caters to the hyper wealthy year round. He has NOT “woke-n” up to the fact that our year round population are blue collar workers who have to work 2 and sometimes 3 jobs just to support a family.

    I don’t know why he continues to focus on the Vineyard….. probably his rich friends telling him what a nice time they had here when they made their short yearly visits between the golden months of June to August…..Why doesn’t he come visit in January to see what 3/4 ‘s of the year is like here, what jobs are only available in summer, or how many folks clothe there families from the thrift shops and Dumptique? He needs wake up to our reality!

    1. Donna, yes we understand that the year round population is vastly different financially from the summer folks but the summer folks don’t vote here in November. Look at the election results as to why DeSantis is sending migrant here. The island overwhelmingly voted Democrat and vociferously supports ultra liberal policies.

      1. Do you think that the summer folks support DeSantis?
        DeSantis is sending migrants to the Island as punishment for our politics?
        Conservatives and the Joy of Punishment.
        One day of dictator will fix everything,

      2. Carl, de Santis clearly has no interest sending asylum seekers to places where they can get a foot hold in an area of the country where they can get a good job, reasonable housing, and education opportunities for themselves and their children.

        His previous stunt only served to show how unlikable he truly is and thankfully the voting public realized this too.

        I’m aware that his stupid stunt isn’t the only reason he didn’t get close to Nikki Haley’s number of votes in the primaries, but I’m also surprised at how often the asylum seekers Vineyard visit was mentioned by the folks who opposed him when he was on the campaign trail. He is just a mean spirited and thoughtless individual.

        1. Donna, what area of the country has the resources? New York? Nope just ask them. Chicago? Nope, no money there either. LA, have seen the homeless and migrant population living in squalor? Every jurisdiction is overwhelmed where migrants are arriving. So why not send them to one of the wealthiest places on earth. If MV is not willing to build housing for these needy people why should other cities? People on MV need to put their money where their mouth is or keep it closed.

          1. Carl, you seem to have a limited view concerning asylum seekers and their effort to find a permanent home in the USA. You are correct in naming our large, over crowded cities as places that can’t handle any more migrants. However, the smaller cities and towns in each of our states can handle a few families…. I know the news media make it sound like our country is chocked full of migrant folks, but they are proportionately a smaller group as compared to the rest of the USA population. Who knows, these folks could enhance the cultural make up of our smaller towns and cities. Don’t forget, the folks crossing our borders aren’t all drug dealers, thugs and thieves…many are well educated nurses, doctors, teachers, and other professionals who could be useful citizens if given half a chance.

            I get the feeling from your “challenging
            attitude “ you would be most happy if none of the asylum seekers crossed our borders, yes???… l know I can’t change the thinking of your sort of people , but try to envision what spurned the migrants to walk 100’s of miles through dangerous countries. If you were in their shoes, I think you’d have a more reasonable outlook.

          2. Donna, my “challenging attitude”? I don’t have an attitude. And my view is not limited. Yours is. You don’t have to walk up Circuit Ave and deal with illegal migrants sleeping in front of Linda Jeans begging for money and food like those of us who have to travel into sanctuary cities for work, school or medical care. Martha’s Vineyard is not considered a large over crowded city so what happened to the migrants that arrived on MV? They packed them up and shipped them out and the reason given is that MV is not equipped to handle them.
            Donna, so are you advocating that migrants come to MV who don’t speak English, have no job, no housing and perhaps no employable skill?
            I never said we shouldn’t allow any forms of immigration and I would challenge you to source where you got your information that they are well educated nurses doctors and teachers illegally entering our country. Those professions have a legal pathway to emigrate here. And what sort of people do you think I am? So Donna let me ask you this is it your sort of people who don’t want to build public housing on MV? Why isn’t that MV hasn’t built a high rise public housing building for low income people. Because MV is filled with white liberal hypocrites who virtue signal to the world but do nothing to back it. You can’t even build a soccer field without people crying that it will change the island.
            Oh and I have envisioned what has spurned these people to walk here to the USA. Free stuff. That truthfully is not ours to offer. We are borrowing the money to pay for this from people who aren’t even born yet.
            Lastly Donna I would ask you to reach out to those towns big and small to see what financial strains the migrants have put on their governments. Even progressive democrats are saying that this is a huge problem after years of wanting open borders.
            Donna, educate yourself by turning on the tv or reading a national paper that doesn’t parrot liberal talking points and when and if you do that come back and say Thank you Carl for enlightening me to the real world. Until then go un pretending that this immigration catastrophe is good for this country. To what end Donna, to what end.

    2. Yale University, Harvard Law school cum laude, Attorney for Seal Team, Captain of Baseball team at University, JAG, wife and three kids all at age 45. Serving his country loyally. Great governor and very smart. Thoughtful and kind.

  12. I think the state of New York should seize Mar-a – legos and put
    Hattian asylum seekers there. Think of all the money the
    taxpayers of Florida would save on airfare.

      1. Brian– Trump has been indicted and has been
        found guilty of fraud, and fined accordingly.
        There is nothing in the 5 th amendment to prevent
        the state from seizing assets of convicted criminals.
        Look at what happens if you get busted for selling
        drugs– They don’t only seize the drugs, they seize all
        the cash you have in your safe. It can be assumed
        that mar a legos was an asset that was the result of illegal
        activity.

  13. Two simple facts:
    1. The migrants sent by DeSantis last time were lied to as to where they were headed and what would await them there. At the very least it was a demonstration of gross disrespect to their basic humanity.
    2. The Vineyarders I meet every day are not snobs or elites, but are ordinary, decent people who have clearly welcomed the people from many cultures – Brazilian, Jamaican, African – who contribute year round to our community.

    3. Lets send one thousand Zulus to MV and see if you are still blaze’. Multiculturism hasnt worked and doesnt work. Europe has already committed suicide. They thought due to guilt that people would integrate but they havent. Go to Paris and to places where the police dont even enter. Go to Antwerp and Malmo and London and Munich and Cologne. Lots of decent law abiding people but also lots of thieves, crooks terrorists pickpockets and people living on the dole. Yes local ethnic people commit problems also but the uncensored waved of immigration has people shocked and afraid.

      1. “Zulus “? Weren’t they the stereotyped “savages”
        in the old Tarzan movies ? You do know that the
        Tarzan movies were not documentaries, right.

  14. Just another reminder that the MV Times allows racist comments as long as they are phrased “just so”. Directly pointing out a comment as racist means your comment will not be published. You need to write in general terms like this and hope that most people have the sense to figure out what you’re talking about.

    1. Antisemitic attacks are hosted by the MVTimes in letters and comments and biased “Thanksgiving” messsges. The liberal left has no objection to those.

    2. Harrison, I am a bit disappointed with that policy.
      So let me be clear– someone can say that black
      people are stupid, and I can’t point out that is
      a racist comment ? I didn’t call andy a racist after all.
      Can I do that ? Jackie has called me an
      anti-samite many times on this forum.
      What’s the difference between calling someone
      a racist and an anti-semite ? Both imply a bigoted
      attitude and hatred based entirely on someone’s
      ethnicity.

  15. Andrew, your claims are shocking! I’ve been to some of those places and I never, never saw anything close to what you’re describing!

    1. Mary. The question is, have you ever been to Martha’s Vineyard? Bombarding the comment feature with a heavy handed liberal left POV with no awareness of the demographics sounds to me like you are unfamiliar with the Island. Pushing e-bikes on islanders, a certain disaster on-island, was a big clue, as was the suggestion that islanders should buy $70,000 cars, lol. It’s hard to believe you know what you’re talking about on any topic when you don’t seem to know who you are talking to.

  16. Mary respectfully I have visited 100 countries and lived in 11. Paris is the most beautiful city in the world in my opinion but you can walk into places that are little Morocco or little Yemen and no acculturation whatever.

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