A crisis is brewing from the violence and the political upheaval in Haiti.
That has potential to spill over into the Sunshine State.
And Florida stopped the worst from happening in this scary incident involving Haiti.
Florida is bracing for a potential surge of illegal immigration from Haiti
The Caribbean nation of Haiti is on the brink of collapse from escalating violence as armed gangs battle for control of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
Millions of Haitians could be facing famine conditions because of the political turmoil in the country.
Fears are growing that Florida, which is 600 miles from Haiti, could become the destination of choice for Haitians looking to flee the crisis.
In March, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tried to get ahead of any potential Haitian crisis by deploying law enforcement and the State Guard to the Florida Keys and the waters surrounding it to interdict potential illegal aliens from Haiti before they make it ashore.
“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,” DeSantis said at the time.
Miami police stop boat with human smugglers from Haiti
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission along with state, local, and federal authorities are working together on a joint task force to stop illegal immigration in the Keys and South Florida.
Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) agents with the Air and Marine Operations Center spotted a ship that was suspected of carrying illegal aliens in the waters off Miami.
Miami-Dade police stopped a 60-foot boat that had two suspected human smugglers aboard the ship along with 30 Haitians.
“All were taken into custody and turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard for repatriation,” Florida Fish and Wildlife said in a statement. “One of the suspected smugglers was transferred to Homeland Security Investigations custody.”
DeSantis bolstered operations in the area by sending eight seaplanes and 23 officers to help with anti-illegal immigration efforts.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Executive Director Roger Young thanked DeSantis after the bust.
“Our law enforcement is working diligently with local, state, and federal partners to address the influx of migrants in the Florida Keys and along the coast through increased surveillance efforts and resources,” Young said. “I want to thank Governor DeSantis for his leadership in addressing this important issue.”
DeSantis said on social media that Florida’s efforts to stop illegal immigration by sea are paying off.
“Because of our efforts in South Florida, we are ensuring illegal aliens are turned away for repatriation before they reach the mainland,” DeSantis wrote on X. “Since January of 2023, our efforts have led to the interdiction of more than 14,000 illegal aliens.”
Florida is sending a message to illegal aliens from Haiti that the Sunshine State is not going to be turned into the next southern border.
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
