Latest news with #MarthasVineyard
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
ICE storms nation's wealthiest island retreat to arrest dozens of illegal migrants…but governor is appalled
ICE agents stormed the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard and arrested 40 illegal immigrants - but a blue state governor slammed the effort as 'disturbing.' Immigration agents successfully apprehended at least one MS-13 gang member and one child sex offender during the bust, according Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde. 'ICE and our federal partners made a strong stand for prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our New England neighborhoods,' she said. 'Operations like this highlight the strong alliances that ICE shares with our fellow law enforcement partners.' Even White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt posted 'Bye bye!' on X along with a waving hand emoji as a response to an image of migrants being shackled and transported via boat. But Massachusetts ' Democratic Governor Maura Healey demanded 'answers' and 'clarification' from ICE about the covert operation. Healey told the Boston Herald it was 'very disturbing, needless to say, to wake up to news about that activity on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket.' Healey questioned whether ICE officials genuinely targeted criminals like they said, noting: 'It's one thing to go after and target those who have committed crimes, who are here unlawfully. 'It's concerning when we see people, moms and dads, being ripped away from families. Neighbors, coworkers taken away, literally it looks like, on the way to job sites in Nantucket and on the Vineyard.' 'Local police chiefs have zero information about what's happening in their communities. We at the state level have zero information about what's happening in communities. 'And that needs to change. We need to get answers. We need to get clarification from ICE.' Healey's comments sparked immediate and furious backlash from Trump administration DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. She told Fox News that local authorities were notified about the operation. 'Before the Governor criticizes our brave law enforcement, she should get her facts straight—apparently, she is the one with "zero information,"' McLaughlin said. 'What we find "disturbing" and "concerning" is politicians like Massachusetts Gov. Healey fighting to protect criminal illegal aliens. 'Our ICE officers will continue putting their lives and safety on the line to arrest murderers, kidnappers, and pedophiles that were let into our country by the Biden administration's open border policies.' Trump returned to the White House after campaigning with a pledge to conduct the largest mass deportation scheme in American history. The affluent and tight-knit pro-Democrat area of Martha's Vineyard was inundated with 50 migrants in 2022 after Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis sent two planeloads of immigrants to the island. In response, authorities activated the National Guard in response, declaring the situation a 'humanitarian crisis.' Then in April 2024, it emerged that some of those migrants who cooperated with the sheriff were able to apply for U-nonimmigrant status and three of them have since received 'bona fide determinations.' That meant that the trio of Venezuelan migrants were given permission to work legally in the country and be protected from deportation. The U-nonimmigrant status, known as U-visa, is set aside for victims of certain crimes who have suffered mental or physical abuse and are helpful to law enforcement or government officials in the investigation or prosecution of criminal activity, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Migrants granted a U-visa are eligible to work in the United States, then can apply for a Green Card after having a U-visa for three years. There is a 10,000 limit on the number of U-visas issued each year and there are thousands of applicants on a waiting list.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
Merciless Martha's Vineyard homeowner wages war against elderly locals who 'cross into her $5M land to get to beach'
A homeowner on Martha's Vineyard has sparked a legal war against her elderly neighbors, who she says are trespassing on her land to gain access to the beach. Melinda Loberg, a longtime resident of the famed Massachusetts island, filed a lawsuit against Havenside, a non-profit that provides housing for seniors, on May 12. Loberg, who works as a secretary for a local elderly support group, claimed Havenside's senior living tenants were illegally crossing her ritzy waterfront land to get to Vineyard Haven Harbor. She has lived at her $5 million idyllic home on Crocker Avenue with her husband since July 1992, and now, more than three decades later, Havenside has told Loberg its residents have a right to use a small path on her property to get to the water. The independent living facility first informed Loberg of its easement to the property in June 2024 after sending her a letter detailing that they would be allowing its residents to use the 13-foot corridor on the north side of her land to gain access to the beach, according to the lawsuit obtained by The 16-page lawsuit, which goes over a detailed history of the beachfront property, claimed that when she and her husband Michael first purchased the home on the luxurious island, the deed did not at all reference any access easements. It went on to state that any access rights were taken away before Havenside took over its property. Loberg also emphasized that she has been using the land for 30 years which voids the corporation's past claims to it. In response, Havenside said that information is false and that it has had an easement there since 1890, the Vineyard Gazette reported. The specific area that the senior center is claiming to control is a space that the Loberg's 'cleared the existing vegetation' from, along with 'removed tires, bottles, car mats, and large chunks of macadam and then planted Parcel 2A with grass,' the documents read. Following the cleanup, the couple decided to install a 170-foot fence along the area in question - cutting off access for more than two decades, the lawsuit stated. Havenside said they planned to gain access to the beach by cutting the grass between the fence and garden beds to construct an entry gate, the filing continued. After informing Loberg of its plans, the corporation sent a tenant by the name of Frank Rapoza over to the property, 'carrying tools,' so he could 'install' the fence, per the lawsuit. Tensions quickly rose when Loberg saw him standing in her driveway ready to get to work, so much so that she threatened to call the police if he attempted to install the gate. With that, Rapoza fled the property, but soon after Loberg received a phone call from him 'threatening to return and install the gate,' the lawsuit detailed. 'In response to this phone call, Plaintiff installed a "No Trespass" sign on the Property line near the Havenside Property,' it added. A manager with Havenside then reached out to Loberg and stated that Rapoza 'was not an agent of Havenside or its Board. Any representation otherwise has never been authorized.' Loberg, a former Tisbury select board member, chose to sit down with Havenside on July 14, 2024 to talk about the issue, but 'representatives were not inclined to discuss alternative solutions and instead insisted upon the existence of the purported access easement,' her lawsuit read. Later that month, the corporation offered to 'remove' the easement in exchange for 'a cash payment,' but Loberg denied the 'extortive offer.' By October of that year, Havenside filed a Wetlands Protection Act Notice of Intent (NOI) with the local Conservation Commission 'seeking approval to make improvements on Plaintiff's Property within the alleged Access Easement,' the lawsuit said. In that filing, 'Havenside falsely claimed to be the owner of the Property, failing to accurately fill out Section 3 requiring them to list the Property Owner if different from the applicant,' it went on. In February, the Loberg's said they 'discovered a group from Havenside, including Mr. Rapoza, trespassing on Plaintiff's Property and in the process of cutting Plaintiff's Fence in order to install a gate.' Loberg then called the police who asked the group to vacate, but 'declined' to forcibly remove them, noting that it was a 'civil matter.' The lawsuit also included an image of Rapoza, an alleged 'manager of Havenside,' and unknown person 'destroying a section of Plaintiff's Fence and installing the gate.' A police report was also filed in relation to the incident. 'Mr. Rapoza subsequently returned and finished installing the Gate,' the lawsuit said, adding that Havenside has since added signage to the entrance of Loberg's property stating that residents are allowed to use that as an access point to the beach. Loberg 'feels harassed and threatened by the conduct of Havenside's tenants and does not feel safe on her Property as a result of their conduct,' the filing concluded. She has demanded that 'Havenside, its guests, tenants and invitees' are not allowed to access her property and that it does not benefit from any easement over the Plaintiff's Property for the purpose of accessing Vineyard Haven Harbor.' An initial hearing was held on May 20 and the next is set for June 16, according to documents. Lucinda Kirk, the property manager of Havenside, told the Vineyard Gazette Loberg's claims in the lawsuit are 'bogus' and were made as a way for her to get rid of the non-profit by bringing on legal fees. 'The issue for Havenside is to provide equal access for our residents,' Kirk told the outlet. 'We have residents with limited mobility and chronic health conditions who need safe and easy access to the beach. Serenity and saltwater are important for our senior's health.' Kirk said Havenside is working on obtaining a pro bono lawyer to fight for residents to gain access to the waterfront.
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Blue state governor sounds off about ‘disturbing' ICE operations on affluent liberal islands
Massachusetts Democratic Governor Maura Healey is sounding off about her frustrations with ICE's latest operations in her state, saying she found it "disturbing" to hear about the arrests of some 40 illegal immigrants in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. ICE, working with several other federal law enforcement agencies, conducted a series of immigration enforcement operations in Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard on Tuesday. An ICE statement said "around 40" individuals were arrested as a result of the operations, including an MS-13 gang member and at least one child sex offender. ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia Hyde said that "ICE and our federal partners made a strong stand for prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our New England neighborhoods" and that "operations like this highlight the strong alliances that ICE shares with our fellow law enforcement partners." Healey, however, took a very different tone about the operations. The governor said that "it was very disturbing, needless to say, to wake up to that news about that activity on Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket," according to the Boston Herald. "Local police chiefs have zero information about what's happening in their communities. We at the state level have zero information about what's happening in communities. And that needs to change. We need to get answers. We need to get clarification from ICE," said Healey. The outlet also reported Healey saying the arrests raised "real questions" about whether federal immigration authorities are complying with due process. "It's one thing to go after and target those who have committed crimes, who are here unlawfully," said Healey. "It's concerning when we see people, moms and dads, being ripped away from families. Neighbors, coworkers taken away, literally it looks like, on the way to job sites in Nantucket and on the Vineyard." Trump DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin, however, told Fox News Digital that "ICE did notify local authorities about the enforcement operations." "Before the Governor criticizes our brave law enforcement, she should get her facts straight—apparently, she is the one with 'zero information,'" continued McLaughlin. "What we find 'disturbing' and 'concerning' is politicians like Massachusetts Gov. Healey fighting to protect criminal illegal aliens," she continued, adding, "Our ICE officers will continue putting their lives and safety on the line to arrest murderers, kidnappers, and pedophiles that were let into our country by the Biden administration's open border policies." Martha's Vineyard, which is a heavily affluent and deeply blue area, made headlines in 2022 when residents promptly removed the migrants being sent to the island from southern states like Florida and Texas. After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sent two planes with 50 migrants to Martha's Vineyard in September 2022, the island activated the National Guard in response and released a statement calling the situation a "humanitarian crisis." The 50 migrants were ultimately loaded onto buses two days after arriving and transported off Martha's Vineyard to military housing on the Cape Cod mainland. On Wednesday, Jon Fetherston, a former Massachusetts migrant-shelter director, told Fox News Digital that "it's deeply troubling that Governor Healey finds the arrests of nearly 40 undocumented individuals on Cape Cod 'disturbing,' yet continues to refuse cooperation with federal agencies like ICE and ERO Boston—even when those agencies are targeting individuals with known criminal records." He continued, saying, "law enforcement was doing its job — removing people who pose a danger to public safety" and asserted that "the majority of the public— including right here in Massachusetts — supports the work of Tom Homan, ICE, and ERO because they understand that public safety must come first, regardless of political affiliation." "Even in one of the bluest states in the country, people expect their leaders to prioritize their safety over partisan agendas," said Fetherston. "The real concern here should be the safety of our communities, not political optics." Healey's office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Vacation hideaway for rich and famous hit by ICE raids as 40 arrested in Nantucket ahead of summer season
Federal immigration raids have spread to New England 's summer island getaway destinations, with 40 people detained on Tuesday by agents from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency and the FBI. ICE states in a press release that the raids occurred on the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard. The Nantucket Current reports that the action by federal authorities appears to be the largest immigration enforcement operation on the island in years. Federal agents pulled over multiple vehicles across the mid-island area beginning around 7 a.m., with at least a dozen people taken into custody. It is also not known whether this was a random sweep or if the arrests targeted known criminal suspects. Detainees were then removed from the island aboard the Coast Guard patrol boat Hammerhead around 1:30 p.m. 'ICE officers and FBI, DEA and ATF agents worked together to arrest a significant number of illegal alien offenders which included at least one child predator,' said ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations Boston acting Field Office Director Patricia H. Hyde. 'Our partners in the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a safe and efficient transport of the alien offenders off Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, ensuring the safety of the residents of those communities. ICE and our federal partners made a strong stand for prioritizing public safety by arresting and removing illegal aliens from our New England neighborhoods.' Nantucket Police Lieutenant Angus MacVicar stated that they were notified on Monday by ICE regarding the timing of the operation. 'We were not asked to support their operation in any way [nor] have we assisted today,' he said. The Current reports that a woman was left behind in the passenger seat of a Toyota 4Runner after federal agents pulled it over and took two men into custody on Old South Road, which runs near the island's airport. In addition, on Fairgrounds Road, island resident Mason Kennelly was pulled over by ICE agents who questioned him before saying they 'had the wrong guy.' White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem reportedly demanded that immigration agents significantly increase daily arrests to 3,000 in a 'tense' meeting last week. Miller, President Donald Trump 's top adviser and architect of the administration's aggressive immigration policies, and Noem told agents they needed to up daily arrests and deportations during the meeting at Immigration and Customs Enforcement's headquarters in Washington, D.C. on May 21, according to Axios. The figure is approximately triple the number of daily arrests that ICE agents were making at the beginning of the Trump administration, the outlet noted. The administration deported 17,000 people in April, according to ICE, which is a 29 percent increase over April 2024, according to NBC News. The ICE sweep comes at the start of the peak tourism season. As a popular — and expensive — destination, Nantucket's population swells to 80,000 during summer months. Following his election defeat in November 2024, President Joe Biden and his family spent Thanksgiving on the island. Martha's Vineyard similarly sees its population swell from 20,000 to over 200,000 in the summer. Famous regular visitors include the Clintons, the Obamas, Trump lawyer Alan Dershowitz, and numerous Hollywood and media figures.
BBC News
4 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Endurance swimmer Lewis Pugh circles island in 'Jaws' campaign
An endurance swimmer has said "we must stop killing sharks" as he completed a 60-mile (96km) trek around the area where Jaws was Pugh, a conservationist from Plymouth, swam in stormy weather around the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts, which was the main location for the Hollywood blockbuster released 50 years completed the swim as part of a campaign to protect sharks which he said had become threatened by commercial 55-year-old took 12 days to complete the challenge, which he said he hoped would "change the narrative" around sharks and highlight their importance to the seas. He said the film Jaws, directed by Steven Spielberg, had cast sharks as the ultimate underwater said: "The movie Jaws was so effective, it shaped the narrative for the past 50 years."The aim of the swim was to change the narrative for a new generation."We need to change the narrative. Sharks are not monsters. They're magnificent, they're essential."Spielberg himself previously said he "truly regrets" the decimation of the shark population following the success of the Oscar-winning film. 'Indifference' threat Pugh said sharks were apex predators who helped keep "oceans in balance", but claimed about 100 million were killed annually by the commercial fishing added there were other threats to the animals based on perceptions about said: "The main direct threat is from commercial fishing and we have to stop killing sharks."But I think there's another threat we have to work so hard to tackle, and that's indifference - it's the belief that sharks somehow don't matter, that the ocean without sharks is safer for all of us." Pugh said the swim left him physically and mentally exhausted and he had to battle against severe weather which hampered his is due to attend the UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, next month to call for an end to killing sharks and the creation of effective marine protected areas across 30% of the world's seas by 2030, known as "30×30".He said the campaign would also focus on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites) conference at the end of the year, saying a number of shark species needed to be listed for the highest level of protection.
