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Sept. 15 (UPI) -- Some 50 migrants were unexpectedly flown to Massachusetts' Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday, local officials and authorities said as they rushed to open shelters to respond to an unfolding humanitarian crisis. Massachusetts Rep. Dylan Fernandes, who represents Martha's Vineyard, said the migrants had arrived at the island aboard chartered flights with many unsure of where they were.
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"They say the were told they would be given housing and jobs," he said in a statement. "Some were told they were going to New York. Islanders were given no notice but are coming together as a community to support them."
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis confirmed in a statement to CNN that his state had chartered the two planes to ship the migrants to the Democrat-led state under his relocation program "to transport illegal immigrants to sanctuary destinations."
The Republican governor and potential presidential candidate has repeatedly blamed irregular immigration in his state on President Joe Biden's policies, and has previously vowed to send migrants to Martha's Vineyard and Biden's home state of Delaware.
"States like Massachusetts, New York and California will better facilitate the care of these individuals who they have invited into our country by incentivizing illegal immigration through their designation as 'sanctuary states' and support of the Biden administration's open border policies," DeSantis told CNN.
The emergency management association for Dukes County, which covers Martha's Vineyard, issued a call to action on Wednesday in search of volunteers "due to an unexpected ongoing urgent humanitarian situation."
It said it was opening emergency shelters to accommodate the migrants on the island while asking people to volunteer in clinical and non-clinical roles.
Fernandes said the community "jumped into action" and all who have arrived have been given a bed, food, water and healthcare.
"We will welcome every person sent here and make sure they are treated with dignity and respect all people deserve," he said.
"I cannot properly express how disgusted I am with the people who plotted this. It is beyond inhumane to secretly ship people across the country on a lie to try to create chaos to gain political points. It is evil."
Terry MacCormack, press secretary for Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, told UPI in a statement that they have been in contact with officials in Martha's Vineyard about the migrants' arrival.
"At this time, short-term shelter services are being provided by local officials, and the administration will continue to support those efforts," MacCormack said.
The forced relocations follow a similar move by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who bused migrants from his state to New York City, Washington and Chicago.
On Wednesday, Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker announced an emergency disaster proclamation and activated 75 members of the state National Guard to support asylum seekers who have been arriving near daily from Texas.
"Let me be clear: While other states may be treating these vulnerable families as pawns, here in Illinois, we are treating them has people," Pritzker said in a statement.
Since Aug. 31, Texas has been transporting migrants to Illinois without advanced notice. They have been dropped off at Chicago's downtown Union Station, although the state and city is asking for them to be taken to welcome centers.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz called the move by DeSantis "a new low" and accused him of putting human lives at risk with a political stunt.
"There is nothing that DeSantis won't do, and nobody that he won't hurt, in order to score political points," he said in a statement. "He took dozens of families and children, reportedly from Venezuela and Colombia, away from everyone that they know, flew them across the country and left them by the side of the road without shelter or direction -- all in order to score political points."
