Migrants voluntarily move to Joint Base Cape Cod

BOURNE, Mass. — All of the migrants who showed up unannounced in the state this week are now at Joint Base Cape Cod. The state says this is a location that can better help the people as they navigate the immigration process.

They arrived Wednesday night and by Friday morning relationships were already built. The migrants flown into Martha’s Vineyard said goodbye to the volunteers who helped them on the island, boarded city busses, and went to the ferry on a charter bus. That charter bus drove off the ferry and headed straight to Joint Base Cape Cod. State Senator Susan Moran and State Representative Dylan Fernandes have been working with the migrants since they arrived. “This is exactly what Joint Base Cape Cod does. They have an ability for health services. They are rounding up literally clothing, bedding, tents. Everything people can possibly need, attorney services,” said Moran. “There’s vendor for food water and shelter. Separate places for people with families, there are mental health care wrap around services, regular healthcare along with long term contracts for case management to make sure these kids can get some education opportunities,” Said Fernandes.

There was no media access allowed on the base, but at the front gate, we saw the community support continue. Katiuska Valiente, a fellow Venezuelan who owns a restaurant in Brighton, wanted to connect the migrants with a traditional meal. “They don’t know nothing about, nothing about Massachusetts and nothing about Martha’s Vineyard and why, why they are here. It’s very difficult,” said Valiente.

Right now there is no timeline for how long the migrants will stay here at the base. The state senator explained it will likely be different for each person.

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