WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (NewsNation) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis laid out his administration’s plans Friday for how the state is preparing for the possible influx of immigrants fleeing mass violence in Haiti.
“Given the situation that is happening in Haiti — some brutal reports that are happening — we want to make sure that we are protecting Floridians,” DeSantis said Friday at a news conference.
DeSantis warned that any person who gets on a boat and tries to come to the U.S. through Florida from Haiti will be intercepted and deported back to their country. He has urged those who plan on attempting this to avoid taking these steps, especially since it is a hazardous feat.
“It’s a hazardous journey, it’s not worth doing and we have the resources that are going to continue to keep the people of Florida safe,” he said.
On Wednesday, the governor announced he would be deploying over 250 state officers to secure the Florida border from potential migrants entering from Haiti.
“Given the circumstances in Haiti, I have directed the Division of Emergency Management, the Florida State Guard, and state law enforcement agencies to deploy over 250 additional officers and soldiers and over a dozen air and sea craft to the southern coast of Florida to protect our state,” DeSantis said in a statement.
DeSantis added that “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.”
Chaos has unfolded in Haiti over the past weeks, as criminal gangs have used violence to take power in the capital of Port-au-Prince.
The nation has witnessed violence as gangs have attacked prisons and the main airport, forcing businesses and schools to close. Food and water have been scarce, and an estimated 15,000 people have been forced from their homes in Port-au-Prince.
Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced this week that he would resign once a transitional presidential council is created.
On Thursday, the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) launched a portal to allow the state to collect information from Floridians and other Americans currently trapped in Haiti. FDEM hopes this tool will be able to help the government bring those trapped in Haiti home safely.
DeSantis also signed three bills into law Friday: HB 1589 – Driving Without a Valid Driver License, HB 1451 – Identification Documents and SB 1036 – Reclassification of Criminal Penalties. All three bills are related to preventing and deterring illegal immigration in the U.S.
NewsNation’s Safia Samee Ali contributed to this report.
