The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), along with local, state and federal authorities, anchored a boat carrying more than 20 illegal immigrants and two suspected smugglers off the coast of Miami-Dade, the agency announced this week. did. .
The incident occurred on April 19, when Miami-Dade County’s Air and Maritime Operations Center “notified partner agencies of a possible human smuggling operation approaching the coast.”
“Miami-Dade Police conducted the initial stop of the vessel, which was quickly followed by assistance from other local, state, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Coast Guard, and CBP Air and Maritime Operations.” The FWC press release states:.
“The 60-foot yacht was carrying approximately 30 Haitian immigrants and two alleged stowaways. All were taken into custody and turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard for repatriation. Suspected stowaways. one person was transferred to a Department of Homeland Security detention center,” the press release added.
Details from the release:
On January 6, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order #23-03 (Emergency Management – Illegal Immigration), activating the Florida National Guard and directing state law enforcement and other state agencies to respond to the problem. Directed the government to provide resources to support local governments. Providing additional support to the alarming influx of migrants landing in the Florida Keys and efforts to stop further migrants from landing on Florida’s coast.
In response to growing concerns about illegal immigration in South Florida and the Florida Keys, FWC officials are increasing vigilance and surveillance efforts.An additional 23 police officers and eight vessels will be added at the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis. [sic] It is being deployed to strengthen its existing presence in the region.
“Our law enforcement agencies are working with local, state, and federal partners to increase surveillance efforts and resources to address the influx of migrants in the Florida Keys and along the coast,” FWC Executive Director Roger Young said in a statement. “We are working hard,” he said, expressing his gratitude to the governor of Florida. “Thank you for your leadership in addressing this important issue,” Ron DeSantis said.
On Friday, FWC personnel assisted local, state, and federal authorities in interdicting vessels approaching the Miami-Dade County coast. On board, officers found approximately 30 illegal Haitian immigrants and two suspected stowaways. pic.twitter.com/5vqpsImX8T
— MyFWC (@MyFWC) April 22, 2024
DeSantis celebrated the success of the latest operation, saying the effort has resulted in the interdiction of 14,000 illegal aliens since January 2023.
Our work in South Florida ensures that illegal aliens are denied repatriation before they even reach the mainland.
Since January 2023, our efforts have led to the interdiction of more than 14,000 illegal immigrants. https://t.co/GoYaULwyTY
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 22, 2024
In March, Mr. DeSantis announced that law enforcement had seized a boat carrying Haitians armed with guns, drugs and night vision equipment. The actions of participating agencies ultimately prevented an additional 25 immigrants from illegally entering the Sunshine State.
“There were firearms on their boats and ships. They had drugs. They were equipped with night vision devices and had very reckless boating operations that put other people at risk.” could expose them,” the governor said at the time, noting that they were “interrupted near Sebastian Bay.”
“And those illegal aliens were turned over to the Coast Guard for deportation. So our staff has been doing this even before we expanded this and we’re going to continue to do that,” DeSantis said. he added.
The news comes as Florida ramps up personnel in the southern part of the state as part of a warning and surveillance operation.
“I issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency in January 2023 and rapidly ramping up our fleet to support the Coast Guard,” DeSantis said in a speech in March.
“Through our efforts, we succeeded in seizing 670 vessels carrying more than 13,500 illegal aliens,” the governor said at the time, but the latest updates show that number is now about 14,000. There is.
