Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) floated sending Haitian immigrants who arrive in the Florida Keys to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.
DeSantis has been preparing his state for a potential influx of Haitian immigrants after the country came under the control of powerful gangs. In an appearance on Dana Loesch’s podcast, DeSantis laid out the problems Florida faces in traces in trying to deport illegal Haitian immigrants.
“The problem when you get to a situation like Florida is if they have people in our state and we wanted to fly them, say, back to Haiti, you have to get clearance to be able to do that. If you wanted to fly somebody to a South American country, wherever they’re from, it becomes a little bit more difficult because the federal government’s going to tell the host countries not to accept our planes.”
The Florida governor added that it’s different for border states such as Texas or Arizona to deport immigrants because maritime deportations are harder to conduct.
“It’s a little bit different for a maritime state like us,” DeSantis said. “That’s why we’ve really got to get them before they reach the shores, and that’s why we’re working so hard to do that.”
He then proposed that if all else fails, he may resort to returning to a previous move of his: flying immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard.
“We do have our transport program also that’s going to be operational,” DeSantis said. “Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard.”
In September 2022, DeSantis sent two planes filled with immigrants to the upper-class Massachusetts community. The neighborhood is known for being home to many prominent Democratic figures, including former President Barack Obama.
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The flights, containing about 50 immigrants, were decried by Democrats but hailed by many Republicans as an effective move. It mirrored the strategy of Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) of sending immigrants to prominent liberal cities by bus.
DeSantis didn’t send any other flights to Martha’s Vineyard after the heavy backlash, but the latest crisis in Haiti could prompt a return.