Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has warned that Haitians fleeing to South Florida from gang-controlled countries could be shipped to Martha’s Vineyard.
“We also have a transportation program that will be operational,” DeSantis said Tuesday on Dana Loesch’s podcast.
“Haitians are landing in the Florida Keys. Their next destination could be Martha’s Vineyard.”
Florida is about 1,350 miles from Haiti and has been hit by an influx of migrants who have arrived by boat on the Sunshine State’s shores amid the country’s conflict.
republican governor Last week, it announced an increase in personnel and aircraft to the Florida coast in light of the unrest in Haiti and the potential for increased migration by sea from the conflict-stricken country.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has warned that Haitians could be deported to Martha’s Vineyard. ((Photo credit: SERGIO FLORES/AFP via Getty Images))
“The problem when you get into a situation like Florida is if they have people in our state and we want to fly them to, say, Haiti, you have to get permission to do that. Yes, if you want to put someone on a plane, going to a South American country, no matter where they’re from, is a little more difficult because the federal government tells host countries not to accept our planes. ,” DeSantis said.
“For a maritime nation like ours, the situation is a little different,” he continued. “That’s why we need to catch them before they reach our shores, and that’s why we’re working so hard.”
Violence in the Caribbean country has significantly escalated after gangs overran the capital Port-au-Prince, leading to the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry. They burned down police stations, looted major airports, and plunged the country into anarchy. The gang also raided some of the largest prisons and released thousands of inmates.
Aid groups say nearly 1.4 million people in the country are at risk of starvation and more than 4 million need food assistance.
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On Monday, March 18, Haitians reacted after more than a dozen people were killed by gang members on the streets of Petionville, Haiti. (Clarence Cifroy/AFP via Getty Images)
Florida’s defense deployment includes 48 National Guard troops with four additional helicopters, 39 Florida Department of Law Enforcement troopers, 30 Florida Highway Patrol troopers with aircraft and drones, and Florida Fish and Wildlife. This includes the addition of 23 police officers and eight additional vehicles from the Conservation Commission. DeSantis’ office said there will also be additional vessels.
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“Welcome to Florida” sign (Jim Steinfeld/Michael Ochs Archive/Getty Images)
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DeSantis announced Friday that state law enforcement had seized a boat that came to the Florida coast carrying dozens of Haitian immigrants, as well as firearms, drugs and night vision equipment.
“I have to protect my state,” DeSantis said. “We have enough problems dealing with people moving to Florida from blue states.”
FOX News’ Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
