Martha's Vineyard weeklies hustle to cover surprise influx of immigrants flown in from Florida by its governor

Islanders jumped in to help out. (Vineyard Gazette photo by Ray Ewing)

The two independently owned local weeklies on Martha's Vineyard rose to meet the challenge posed by the unexpected arrival of 50 immigrants at the local airport Wednesday afternoon, courtesy of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, copying a tactic Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has used to focus attention on illegal immigration.

"National immigration debate comes to Martha's Vineyard, headlined the Martha's Vineyard Times. today, after a basic story yesterday. The Vineyard Gazette announced, "Planeloads of Venezuelan Migrants Arrive at Martha's Vineyard Airport."

Reporters for the weeklies the hustled to shoot photos and interview locals, elected officials, and immigrants—the latter through interpreters, which the papers also drummed up. They deftly painted a picture of a community that rose to meet the challenge too. The immigrants were bused to St. Andrews Church, where locals made sure they had safe shelter, food, clothing, medical supplies, and other needs.

"We came here because of the situation in our country, for the economy, for work, for lots of things," one immigrant told Brooke Kushwaha of the Gazette. Gazette. "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."

The immigrants won't likely be able to stay in Martha's Vineyard, which has a housing shortage, but the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency will help with a long-term solution, Kushwaha reports.

But Lisa Belcastro, who manages the local shelter, said the immigrants want to contribute to their new homes, wherever that may be. "Every single person has come up and said they want a job; they are not looking for a handout. Some of these people have been through horrific things. They need a break. They need help," she told Brennan.

"People have been amazing. The Islanders have been amazing," Janet Constantino of MV Community Services told George Brennan of the Times.