A few thoughts on Ron Desantis and his stunts:
1) These migrants, predominantly from Venezuela, are not illegal immigrants. They are seeking asylum, which is legal. (Call it the American Dream.)
2) Ron Desantis spent $12 million in Florida taxpayer funds for what amounts to a cheap political stunt designed to appeal to the xenophobia of the GOP base.
3) "Owning the libs" is so very much fun, yes indeed it is, but the people of Martha's Vineyard actually welcomed and helped these people, thus demonstrating human compassion as opposed to the cruelty of Desantis, who used them as pawns.
4) It seems cruelty has become a prerequisite for being a Republican these days. The GOP of Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, Dwight D Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan (and others) is dust and ashes. What remains is an abomination.
Before I responded, I had to sleep on it. I don’t agree.
First, we have at least 5 million people who have
illegally crossed into the US. That is a conservative number. These are
economic migrants and cannot make the case they have a “well-founded fear of persecution of some kind that is authenticated.” That is the legal standard. That is not asylum that people are entitled to. Sorry.
Second, we have a very generous pathway (probably the most generous in the world) to immigration and citizenship and body of law called Immigration Law which provides as many categories to get into the US as the letters of the alphabet. My family came to Ellis Island, were medically quarantined, and subsequently released to whomever the
sponsors who took responsibility for their care so you are not homeless. When you apply legally to come to the US, you pay a fee, get a ticket and wait in line, like the grocery store. You don’t break down the door. You are supposed to show that you can pay for your medical insurance, and not be a burden on the system-that is the US law.
Third, Massachusetts is a “sanctuary state” as declared by a Republican governor. All parts, even the better-than-the-rest, tony, rich, Martha’s Vineyard come under the declaration. They are not doing their share. Nor is every state. We have tens of thousands of homeless veterans as well as homeless from all causes such as addiction. It is unacceptable for that to continue.
Fourth, they are on a military base where the military families are housed, and not all of the military can get housing on the base or pay rent to live off-base. This is compounded by the fact that this base is a toxic dump, so no one should be there. [Even if the BBs played a show in 92 there for the anniversary of The Coast Guard.] There used to be a school there that is now closed because many of the teachers got cancer. It is an area I know well. (The back story of the environmental disaster is that post WW2, military munitions, chemicals and ordnance were dumped, right into the ground on the base, which created toxic “plumes” that seeped into the drinking water, causing the highest breast cancer rates in the state in those surrounding towns.)
So, the environment is far healthier on The Vineyard, and they did no service to those 50 people. The elite, snob-filled island, where if they don’t like your politics you are shunned - ask Alan Dershowitz. And, where they make the rules, that they don’t have to follow. That is for the peasant class. So the vineyard doesn’t want to absorb 50 people when towns are absorbing the services for tens of thousands? No, they are not helping. Not even a paltry 50 people? All those summer rentals (by the hundreds) that are now empty? No, there is plenty of housing.
The “libs” don’t have the
visual of uncontrolled influx of millions, even, from a health standpoint, because now we have Polio (and other unrecognizable diseases) in the US for the first time in nearly 60 years. They are not screened. The Cloward-Piven (which I think everyone should learn) goal is to overwhelm the system to overtake the country with a global governance. Don’t take my word for it. Please. It is a case of NIMBY - Not In My Back Yard. Now it is Not in My Vine-Yard. NIMBV.
They were on full view, last week, kicking 50 people off an island that is one of privilege and highly educated who could certainly give-back with their Master’s degrees and doctorates, to teach English, offer medical and legal help because they are over-run with doctors and lawyers. They showed who they are. I agree with DeSantis. They could not have been in a better-educated location to get voluntary support services. The cheapest house on “The Vineyard,” is over half a million and goes to $26 million. That is right from the real estate website called Trulia. Let The Vineyarders put their money where their mouths are. They rejected those people who crossed the border. No matter how it is spun. Their platitudes mean nothing.
And, lastly, we have 110,000 people dead from Fentanyl poisoning a lethal drug being sold in weed, or pills, or whatever, being trafficked across the border alongside human trafficking, since we have had Open Borders. That is too high a price. I am glad this is in the politics group. And I could not walk into a country and just decide I am staying there or move there without permission of that country.
There is a process to apply to immigrate into another country. You can’t stay in many countries in Europe or even rent a a car for longer than 180 days, let alone, walk across a border and expect to be taken care of. You have to return on day 180. The car rental agreement reminds you. Some of the churches are getting 25% of the resettlement fees from the government to relocate people who have crossed the borders. That is billions, in a big money grab that does not support legal entry into the US. My family came here legally as did millions of others in this melting pot. We are only being told half the story in the media.
Most love immigration because we are from immigrant families; I’m one of them. Legal.
P.S. Honestly, I would have arrived at the very same conclusion as you did, and would have the same reflections and impressions, if I was not physically close to the area or did not know what the law was. It is painted so differently from what the actual facts are and the area where they are re-located. Thanks.