DeSantis Deploys U.S. Coast Guard – Patrol Boat in Water – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Douglas Litchfield
As gang violence has increased unrest in the Caribbean country, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared on Wednesday that he is deploying more than 250 additional troops, police, aircraft, and boats to “protect” the state against vessels transporting illegal immigrants from Haiti.
This comes amid continued turmoil in Haiti, where strong gangs have seized two of the largest jails in the nation, in Port-au-Prince, burnt police stations, and attacked the main airport.
In response to international criticism, Prime Minister Ariel Henry stated on Tuesday that he will step down as soon as a formal presidential council is established.
However, any instability in Haiti could mean that more internally displaced people might try to enter the United States by sea.
In a statement, DeSantis claimed that the Sunshine State has been devoting “significant resources” to preventing unauthorized vessels from entering Florida.
“Given the circumstances in Haiti, I have directed the Division of Emergency Management, the Florida State Guard, and state law enforcement agencies to deploy over 250 additional officers and soldiers and over a dozen air and sea craft to the southern coast of Florida to protect our state,” said the governor.
“No state has done more to supplement the (under-resourced) U.S. Coast Guard’s interdiction efforts; we cannot have illegal aliens coming to Florida,” he stated.
According to DeSantis’ office, the deployment consists of 48 more National Guard members with four additional helicopters, 39 Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers, 30 more Florida Highway Patrol officers with aircraft and drones, and 23 more Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers with eight more seacraft.
In 2021, a large influx of Haitians crossed the southern land border of the United States and sought refuge under a bridge in Del Rio, Texas. This in turn resulted in a run-in with the Border Patrol, where agents were accused of “whipping” migrants without sufficient justification.
Additionally, Haitians are qualified for a contentious parole program that permits up to 30,000 citizens of Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua to enter the country each month via plane.
In the meantime, to guard the American embassy in Haiti, the United States sent out a Marine anti-terrorist force.
At the State Department’s request, the U.S. Southern Command sent out a “U.S. Marine Fleet-Anti-terrorism Security Team (FAST) to maintain strong security capabilities at the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and conduct relief in place for our current Marines, a common and routine practice worldwide,” according to a statement released early on Wednesday.
“The U.S. Embassy remains open, and limited operations continue, focused on assistance to U.S. citizens and supporting Haitian-led efforts to secure a peaceful transition of power,” it added.
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., questioned Rebecca Zimmerman, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, about what steps are being taken to get ready for a possible Haitian migration wave. Fox News Digital inquired about any potential preparations being made with the Department of Homeland Security.
“At the moment, we have not yet seen large numbers, what we would characterize as maritime mass migration,” Zimmerman told Gaetz. “We are alert to that possibility. I think you’re right that the driving conditions in Haiti could very well press more people. We recently approved some additional assistance we could provide to the Coast Guard.”
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Chris began his writing as a hobby while attending Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida. Today he and his wife live in the Orlando area with their three children and dog.
