Martha’s Vineyard commissioner calls ‘immigration paradise’ ‘inhumane’

A Martha’s Vineyard legislator who earlier expressed his desire for the wealthy community to become a “haven” for immigrants has criticised Gov. Ron DeSantis for flying in 50 immigrants.

Keith Chatinover, a county commissioner representing the region, reacted to Sen. Ted Cruz’s advocacy of a plan that would designate Democratic-led counties as points of entry for processing immigrants.

‘I would want Martha’s Vineyard to become a shelter for new immigrants to our nation, but Senator Cruz has no understanding what he’s talking about about a “border crisis,”‘ he said the MVTimes in October 2021.

But after calling DeSantis a “fascist” for intensifying the immigration conflict with Democrat-controlled regions, he is now being criticised for the remarks.

The governor of Florida sent 50 migrants on two flights to the liberal island community.

Ted Cruz, a state senator from Texas, was also called out by him for bringing up his remarks from the previous year, adding, “I really am living rent free in your mind, eh Ted Cruz.”

Cruz said on Twitter that he was perplexed by Chatinover’s criticism of DeSantis for transporting the undocumented residents to the region, where the Obamas, Oprah Winfrey, and Larry David own estates.

In a tweet, Chatinover said that although he “supports refugee resettlement,” it bothers him when migrants are not given “enough warning” to “assist” them.

He continued by saying that the Republicans’ use of the pandemonium to “make a point” was a “blatant contempt” for human rights.

DeSantis should be “prosecuted for human trafficking,” according to another tweeter who labelled him “fascist filth,” which Chatinover retweeted.

Notice Ted Cruz how when migrants arrived on our beaches, we supplied them with food and shelter—not cages and family separations,’ he said in response to Ted Cruz’s post supporting DeSantis.

Katherine Clark, the assistant speaker of the U.S. House, likewise denounced DeSantis’ conduct and referred to him as “despicable” for “playing politics with human life.”

Democratic state representative Dylan Fernandes called the action “inhumane” and charged Florida’s governor of exploiting people as “political pawns.”

Given the shortage of homes on Martha’s Vineyard, Fernandes predicted that some migrants would need to be relocated to an “off-Island site.”

Bryan Griffin, the press secretary for DeSantis, blasted the left’s outrage, calling it misdirected.

The left’s concern about chartered aircraft landing on their doorstep rather than border policies that encourage people smuggling and perilous journeys through Central America, he said, “speaks volumes.”

The refugees spent the night at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Edgartown after they arrived on Wednesday. The church supplied emergency shelter by emptying out the parish hall and laying up beds.

The little downtown parish is tucked between multi-million dollar mansions on a peaceful tree-lined lane; one five-bedroom property next door is now offered for sale for $3.95 million, while another sold for $4.6 million last year.

The Obama family’s $11.75 million vacation home, which is located on the seaside fringes of Edgartown, is just a little more than three miles from St. Andrew’s.

Residents of Martha’s Vineyard and municipal politicians have reacted angrily to DeSantis and other GOP governors’ migrant transplantation policies.