Migrants shipped to Martha's Vineyard are staying in sparse dorms and eating at cafeteria tables at a Massachusetts military base

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Migrants shipped to Martha's Vineyard are staying in sparse dorms and eating at cafeteria tables at a Massachusetts military base
A bus carrying Venezuelan migrants from Martha's Vineyard arrives off of a freight ferry in Woods Hole.Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
  • Migrants flown to Martha's Vineyard last week are now being housed at a nearby military base.
  • Massachusetts said Joint Base Cape Cod will provide food, drinks, clothes, and other services.
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Dozens of migrants who were sent to Martha's Vineyard last week are now living in empty dorm rooms and eating at school-style cafeteria tables at a Massachusetts military base.

A new video published on Sunday by the state's executive office of public safety and security gives a look at some facilities inside Joint Base Cape Cod, where the 50 migrants shipped to the area by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have been offered shelter and humanitarian support.

The video features a series of images provided by the Massachusetts National Guard and shows a few accommodations at the base, including a cafeteria with school cafeteria tables, a lounge room with a few couches, a set of bunk beds with a desk and chair in a dorm room, and a pillow with a blanket and sheets for the beds.

Migrants shipped to Martha's Vineyard are staying in sparse dorms and eating at cafeteria tables at a Massachusetts military base
A cafeteria at Joint Base Cape Cod.Screengrab via Massachusetts National Guard
Migrants shipped to Martha's Vineyard are staying in sparse dorms and eating at cafeteria tables at a Massachusetts military base
A room at Joint Base Cape Cod.Screengrab via Massachusetts National Guard
Migrants shipped to Martha's Vineyard are staying in sparse dorms and eating at cafeteria tables at a Massachusetts military base
A dorm room at Joint Base Cape Cod.Screengrab via Massachusetts National Guard

Insider requested but was denied access to Joint Base Cape Cod on Monday. An official from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) told Insider that the state is focusing its efforts right now on helping the migrants.

"The dormitory-style space at JBCC allows organizers to create specific housing areas for families, who will remain together as a unit, women, and any person with specific needs including medical care," a joint statement from MEMA, the National Guard, and the executive office of public safety and security said.

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"Dedicated space for these groups ensures their continued safety, security, and privacy," the statement added.

Migrants at the base are being provided with food, drinks, clothing, and hygiene kits, as well as services for mental health, healthcare, and crisis counseling. The state also said it is providing access to legal services, and assistance with temporary housing and children's education.

Florida's DeSantis claimed responsibility for flying the Venezuelan migrants on two planes from Texas to the scenic island of Martha's Vineyard on Wednesday. The move cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in state funds, and sparked furious backlash due to political and humanitarian concerns.

Massachusetts officials were given no warning of the inbound migrants, at least some of whom said they were lured to the state with false promises of expedited employment. Attorneys for the migrants and various politicians — including California Gov. Gavin Newsom — have slammed DeSantis for what's being dubbed as a political stunt and are urging both state and federal prosecutors to open a criminal probe into the incident.

Though locals on Martha's Vineyard immediately pulled together to help assist the migrants, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Friday that Joint Base Cape Cod would start providing shelter and support for the group.

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The military base is located inland on Massachusetts' Cape Cod peninsula and is, according to Boston.com, already a MEMA-designated emergency shelter.

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