Mom Shares Her Experience Helping Immigrants Sent to Martha's Vineyard

Christine White Martha's Vineyard immigrants Florida Governor Ron DeSantis

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Sep 22, 12:07 pm

Photo: (Photo : CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images)

One mom and other members of her tight-knit community jumped into action to help 48 Venezuelan immigrants after Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew them in from Texas to Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts.

Christine White has lived in Martha's Vineyard for over 40 years now. The mom of one told TODAY Parents that there is a misconception about Martha's Vineyard. She said there are the rich and famous there, no doubt, but they are a hard-working community of school teachers, doctors, and policemen just like everybody else. She noted that the rich and famous go there in the summer, but they are year-round, hard-working people.

She did not realize immediately that the two planes of immigrants, legally allowed to be in the United States, had been flown to Martha's Vineyard from San Antonio, Texas. White's daughter, who resides in New York City, alerted her mom to the impending humanitarian crisis.

Entire island jumped into action after learning of the immigrants' arrival

According to White, her daughter called her and asked, "What is going on on the Vineyard? What is going on at St. Andrews?" White asked her daughter what she was talking about. When she discovered what was happening, she told her daughter she had to call her back. She immediately got in touch with her church to learn more about the crisis.

White said the immigrants that arrived in Martha's Vineyard first visited a community services office. They were then sent to the local high school for water and food before finally arriving at the church.

White said the entire island jumped into action when they were brought to St. Andrew's. She said that they are a loving community and help people. White said it was very emotional to see these people, these young men, and a 7-year-old little girl who did not know where they were.

One immigrant told WBUR, a public radio station located in Boston, that they were flown to Martha's Vineyard by Governor DeSantis after completing a three-month journey on foot to Texas from Venezuela.

Bexar County Sheriff says immigrants lured under false pretenses

The woman, who identified herself as Perla, said the immigrants were told in San Antonio that they would be provided with money, food, a place to live, and even English classes by getting on the plane to Massachusetts. Other immigrants from the group said they were informed they were headed to the city of Boston.

The immigrants were transported to Martha's Vineyard without advance notice to local authorities or support groups in the area. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said that the immigrants sent to Martha's Vineyard were lured under false pretenses. He has opened up a criminal investigation in Texas into the actions of the Florida governor.

DeSantis told Sean Hannity on Fox News on September 19 that the trip was voluntary, and he has denied any wrongdoing.