Fox’s first appearanceThe Florida Legislature, led by Rep. Matt Gaetz, comes days after the governor suddenly dispatched personnel and planes to the state, citing concerns about a potential mass exodus of Haitians arriving by boat. They are calling on President Biden to take “immediate” action. coast.
The lawmakers, including Rep. Gus Bilirakis, Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, and Rep. Daniel Webster, sent a letter to Mr. Biden saying, It called for the government to exercise its power to declare “mass migration of people.” . ”
Lawmakers say the emergency requires “immediate federal response.”
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Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz speaks to reporters outside the U.S. Capitol as the House of Representatives votes on a continuing resolution on September 30, 2023 in Washington, DC. (Andrew Caballero Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)
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. There are renewed fears that a wave of sea migration will soon follow.
Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced an increase in personnel and aircraft to the Florida coast in light of the unrest in Haiti. 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 his office.
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Government officials stress that they have not seen such large-scale migration so far. On Tuesday, Rebecca Zimmerman, assistant secretary of defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, 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 Gaetz during a House hearing. “We recently approved some additional support that we can provide to the Coast Guard.”
Separately, officials said they requested improvements in their ability to maintain “appropriate posture.”
Lawmakers argued in the letter that they believe “resources are inadequate to deal with the scope and scale of anticipated mass migration,” and that George has sought to combat illegal immigration in the Caribbean. -Highlights former President W. Bush’s 2002 order.
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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)
“The proclamation under Executive Order 13276 strengthens Florida’s efforts to utilize Department of Defense vessels to conduct maritime interdiction and interception of aliens from Haiti and, if possible, repatriate them to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. “It’s necessary. It’s a financial obligation to the American taxpayer,” they say.
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Department of Homeland Security said last week that it was monitoring the situation closely, but stressed that migration flows in the Caribbean remained “low.” He also warned that those whose faces were crossed would be returned to their countries of origin.
“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 at sea. ”
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The U.S. Coast Guard said 65 migrants were repatriated Tuesday after the agency stopped their boat near the Bahamas. The Coast Guard has repatriated 131 migrants so far this year.
But that hasn’t allayed Florida lawmakers’ concerns. Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, R-Florida, also sent a letter to Mr. Biden last week, saying, “We are responding to the grave unrest in Haiti and that this humanitarian and security crisis is threatening the lives of Americans in Florida.” We asked the White House for answers regarding its plan to ensure that there is no direct negative impact on families. in Florida and throughout the United States. ”
