Nantucket Panics Over Bogus Report Suggesting Illegal Immigrants Were En Route

October 10, 2022 10:30 pm

Nantucket, Massachusetts authorities freaked out late last week when they falsely assumed Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis was about to send several illegal immigrants to their island, located about 30 miles east of Martha’s Vineyard.

But as fate would have it, the Town of Nantucket got worked up over nothing. DeSantis made no such plans. Town leaders embarrassed themselves.

Several amused Massachusetts went on social media to take town leaders to task — and to laugh.

Nantucket Police Department officials explained what happened in a press release.

“On Oct. 7, 2022, at 2:54 p.m. Nantucket Central Dispatch received an informational call from the Nantucket Memorial Airport Operations about a reported flight scheduled to arrive in Nantucket on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2022,” Nantucket Police said.

“The purpose of the call was to inform the Nantucket Police Department that the reported scheduled flight had many similarities to the flight and incident that occurred on Martha’s Vineyard.”

DeSantis last month sent nearly 50 illegal immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard.

Nantucket Police said Monday, however, that the chartered flight in question will not have illegal immigrants, but will instead carry executives from a Chicago-based investment company.

In other words, Nantucket officials made a boo-boo.

Among the comments people posted Monday on the police department’s Facebook page:

• “I thought this was a sanctuary state?” — Sean Galvin of Wrentham, Massachusetts

• “Curious what Massachusetts General Law was potentially being violated that the police had to be notified about a private flight? Even if it was a plane full of migrants?” — Paul Robert of Plymouth, Massachusetts

• “‘People from these islands should be forced to spend a month down on the border and see what those states are being forced to go through by this inept administration, 50 illegals and the Vineyard calls in the National Guard. Not to mention the 700+ flights that Biden has initiated all over the country. Try dealing with thousands every day.” — Justin Joyce of Duxbury, Massachusetts

• “The charter company has a serious beef with the airport administrators, for violating the reasonable expectation they have of privacy regarding their flight operations. This isn’t how an airport operator treats private aviation customers. Additionally, there is no police matter here under any circumstances, so the police have no business calling the charter company. Lastly, aviation is a federal jurisdiction so the police, if they deemed it a police matter, need to refer it to the State Police or federal marshals (but it isn’t a police matter). Shame on the airport and the police for this debacle!” — George Riethof of Nantucket

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Several Nantucket officials, including those at the police department, the Memorial Airport Operations, and the five county commissioners did not immediately return RVIVR’s requests seeking comment.

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