DeSantis said he might send Haitian migrants to Martha's Vineyard. Island leader responds.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made comments on a podcast Tuesday suggesting he would send a potential influx of Haitian migrants to Martha’s Vineyard, echoing the controversial move DeSantis employed in 2022 when he arranged to have 50 Venezuelan migrants flown to the island unannounced.

The comments, made on a podcast hosted by the conservative radio host Dana Loesch, come ahead of a potential wave of Haitian migrants and asylum seekers fleeing the violence and chaos of their home country.

In the event DeSantis were to arrange to have Haitian migrants sent to Martha’s Vineyard, Chilmark Select Board Vice Chair James Malkin said the island would lend humanitarian aid and support just as it did with the Venezuelan migrants.

The island's towns, churches and community would do the best it can to see that the people were taken care of "appropriately, legally and with compassion,” Malkin said.

Haitian civilians caught up in violence at home

In recent months, Haiti has devolved into gang violence, with civilians caught in the crossfire and the Prime Minister Ariel Henry announcing March 11 he will resign once a transitional presidential council is created.

Florida has not yet experienced an influx of migrants fleeing Haiti, but DeSantis has signaled he is prepared to resume the program that flew migrants arriving at the Texas border to blue states in the Northeast and California.

“We do have our transport program also that is going to be operational,” DeSantis said on the podcast. “So, if Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop may very well be Martha’s Vineyard.”

A 2023 interview: 'Bodies everywhere.' Venezuelan migrants now on Cape Cod recall horrors fleeing to America

Venezuela migrants

Malkin said when 50 Venezuelan migrants landed on Martha’s Vineyard in September 2022, many of whom were children, the island came together to see that the humanitarian needs of all individuals were taken care of.

“There have been three times in my experience where the island has come together without any issues,” he said. “This was one of them.”

The migrants were then voluntarily moved to Joint Base Cape Cod in Bourne, where many remained for a period of time before further arrangements could be made. Malkin said some returned to Martha’s Vineyard for work and living arrangements.

At the time, the move was called a “blatant disregard for human life” by a joint delegation of Venezuelan-American groups who also accused DeSantis of lying to Cuban and Venezuelan people when they said he pledged not to send migrants from either country out of state.

Lawsuit filed, Galibois pledges to investigate

A lawsuit was subsequently filed by the Venezuelan migrants and the Boston legal aid group Lawyers for Civil Rights seeking a nationwide injunction to block DeSantis from engaging in actions which they alleged endanger human lives. The suit claims that the defendants made false promises about jobs, housing, educational opportunities and other assistance if plaintiffs and class members were willing to board the airplanes.

Lawyers for Civil Rights could not be reached Wednesday for comment.

After Cape and Islands District Attorney Robert Galibois II took office in January 2023, his administration looked into whether charges related to "any potentially criminal activity" might be filed because the migrants had been flown to Martha's Vineyard.

"All materials were reviewed that were made available to us," Cape and Islands District Attorney’s Office spokeswoman Danielle Whitney said Thursday.

Ultimately the matter was referred to the U.S. Department of Justice, she said.

Walker Armstrong reports on all things Cape and Islands, primarily focusing on courts, transportation and the Joint Base Cape Cod military base. Contact him at WArmstrong@capecodonline.com. Follow him on Twitter: @jd__walker.

Reporter Denise Coffey contributed to this story.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: DeSantis says new Haitian migrants in Florida could land on Vineyard