State deploys forces anticipation of increased Haitian migration
TALLAHASSEE - The state is increasing security in South Florida in anticipation of increased migration from Haiti, which is faced with spiraling violence and unrest.
A possible influx of Haitians toward South Florida was fueled this week. On Tuesday, U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a boat off the coast of the Bahamas filled with 65 Haitians, they were all sent back. Concerns of an exodus are growing, Republican Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said that deteriorating conditions in Haiti may become a repeat of a wave of Haitians in boats toward Florida.
"So, what are we doing to prepare for that wave and to ensure that these people are not paroled into the United States as the administration has done with people in the southern border, but instead are repatriated back at the dock in Port Au Prince," said Gaetz.
On Wednesday, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the deployment of 39 officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 23 officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 48 members of the Florida National Guard, 30 Florida Highway Patrol troopers, and up to 133 members of the Florida State Guard. In the last paragraph of his statement, the governor said:
"When a state faces the possibility of invasion, it has the right and duty to defend its territory and people."
"Invasion, come on," said Alix Desulme, the mayor of North Miami, the city with the highest concentration of Haitian Americans in the nation. He is appalled about the reaction from Washington and Tallahassee.
"This is a humanitarian crisis, almost a civil war, there are talks that there may be an influx of Haitians to the U.S. If the governor (DeSantis) wanted to have a conversation, we are here. I think it would be better to see what is it that we can do for the Haitian American community but to put out this invasion by illegal immigrants that's not right."
According to U.S. officials, the Biden Administration is discussing using Guantanamo Bay to process Haitian migrants should there be an exodus to the U.S. The white house has not made a formal announcement yet, but the crisis continues.
