Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Friday that state law enforcement had seized a vessel that came to Florida’s coast carrying dozens of Haitian immigrants, firearms, drugs and night vision equipment.
“Our Florida Fish and Wildlife Office has intercepted a boat with 25 illegal immigrants, possibly from Haiti. The boat was equipped with firearms, narcotics, and night vision equipment. “They were operating their boats in a very reckless manner, putting others at risk,” DeSantis said, adding that the seizures were made “recently” in the past few weeks.
“The vessel was seized near Sebastian Bay and the illegal immigrants were handed over to the coast guard for deportation,” he said.
DeSantis sends soldiers and planes to ‘protect’ Florida from illegal immigrant boats amid Haitian uprising
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that state law enforcement has seized a boat bound for Florida carrying immigrants, firearms and drugs. (Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)
DeSantis made the announcement at a press conference, where he also signed three bills aimed at curbing illegal immigration to the Sunshine State.
The Republican governor announced earlier this week that he would be sending more personnel and aircraft to the Florida coast in response to unrest in Haiti and the possibility of more sea migration from the conflict-hit country.
The Caribbean country has seen a major escalation in violence, with gangs taking over the capital, burning down police stations and attacking the main airport. The gang also raided some of the largest prisons and released thousands of inmates.
DHS warns illegal Haitian immigrants arriving by boat of ‘immediate deportation’
The deployment to Florida 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 Conservation. The commission includes 23 police officers and an additional eight. vessels, according to DeSantis’ office.
He stressed on Friday that this has been going on for some time and that this is an escalation of enforcement, not a new operation. He said that since January 2023, authorities have assisted the coast guard in interdicting 670 vessels carrying more than 13,500 illegal immigrants last week.
“The message is, the last thing you want to do is think about leaving these islands to get on a boat and go to Florida,” DeSantis said. “The most likely scenario is that you will be stopped and sent back to your country of origin.”
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A U.S. Coast Guard boat anchors next to a sailboat carrying approximately 150 migrants on July 21, 2022 in Islandia, Florida. (Joe Radle/Getty Images)
“This is a dangerous journey and not worth taking. But we have the resources to continue to keep Floridians safe.”
On Tuesday, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Rebecca Zimmerman told lawmakers: Department of Defense “alert” Although large-scale immigration is possible, large-scale immigration has not yet occurred.
“I think you’re right that the driving conditions in Haiti could put even more people under pressure,” she told Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida. “We recently approved some additional support that we can provide to the Coast Guard.”
Department of Homeland Security The United Nations said it was monitoring the situation closely, but stressed that migrant flows in the Caribbean remained “low.” He also warned that those whose faces were crossed would be returned to their countries of origin.
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“The policy of the United States is to return noncitizens who do not fear persecution or torture and who have no legal basis to enter the United States. Persons intercepted at sea are subject to immediate deportation in accordance with long-standing U.S. policies and procedures. “The United States will return or repatriate migrants to the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Haiti, intercepted at sea,” the spokesperson said.
On Friday, DeSantis also signed three immigration-related bills. One was to increase the maximum penalty for driving without a license. Another bill would increase penalties for crimes committed by illegal immigrants who return after being deported, and a third bill would prohibit any jurisdiction from recognizing IDs distributed to illegal immigrants by other states. They say they can’t.
