On March 13, he deployed Guard and law enforcement resources against immigration from Haiti. PHOTO COURTESY OF FLORIDA CHANNEL

MIAMI – After a boat carrying 25 migrants from Haiti was intercepted by Florida Fish and Wildlife officers, Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis deployed additional law enforcement officers to South Florida and the Keys to stymie an influx of asylum seekers who may try to flee the Caribbean island amid the surging gang violence.

In a press conference, the governor said the vessel was smuggling Haitians to U.S. soil and officers discovered guns and drugs on the boat on Feb. 29.

The migrants were turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard for deportation.

As the turmoil escalates in Haiti alone with the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry, DeSantis said Florida may see an influx of illegal immigration from Haiti and issued his decree for more law enforcement officers.

“For quite some time, the state of Florida has been dedicating significant resources to combat illegal vessels coming to Florida from countries such as Haiti,” said DeSantis.

“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. 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.”

DeSantis said currently, state agencies have security and surveillance assets in South Florida and the Keys as a part of Operation Vigilant Sentry to stop illegal immigration at sea.

DeSantis has deployed an additional 39 officers from the Department of Law Enforcement, 23 from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 48 Florida National Guards, and 30 officers from the Florida Highway Patrol with additional aircraft for over-water surveillance.

Since the 2021 assassination of Haiti President Jovenet Moise, Haiti has drifted into a whirlpool of violence and anarchy, as gangs are responsible for thousands of deaths and kidnappings and cutting off food and medical supplies.

Haitian migrants have been fleeing the island in record numbers.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard, in 2001, about 1,500 Haitian migrants were repatriated after they were stopped enroute to Puerto Rico, the Bahamas and the Florida Keys.

From 2020 to 2023, the Coast Guard encountered 3,000 Haitian migrants trying to flee from the violence.

In 2022, an overloaded boat carrying 75 Haitian migrants capsized and 11 women died, about a dozen went missing and 38 were rescued.

Some Haitian migrants’ boats came to shore in the Keys, Key Biscayne, Miami Beach and Hallandale Beach and were detained and returned to the island. Some were part of a smuggling ring to bring Haitians to the U.S. soil.

State Rep. Dotie Joseph, a Democrat, who was born in Haiti, said securing the borders in a legal and humane way requires real governance, not political posturing. "Playing politics with people’s lives is on brand for radical right Republicans and may even be gaining popularity nationwide,” she said, “We need to treat those fleeing violence with dignity and compassion, rather than manipulating the situation for political gain.”

The escalating unrest in Haiti, including gangs seizing control over the island, especially the Capital Port-au Prince and airports, has prompted local Haitian American leaders to urge the Biden Administration to send in U.S. Troops to restore law and order.

But the Biden administration objected to U.S. military involvement, but Congress did request $300 million to help fund Haiti multi national security police but Republicans won’t support it for now.

The U.S. military was in Haiti airlifting American personnel from the U.S. Embassy but not combating the gang violence.

U.S. Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, a Haitian immigrant whose district covers portions of Broward and Palm Beach counties, said Haiti is in urgent need for a multinational security support mission and humanitarian assistance.

Cherfilus-McCormick is co-chair of the Haiti Caucus.

"It is crucial that all parties in Haiti urgently put aside their differences and form a transitional government that does not include Ariel Henry, criminals and/or associated organizations," she said. "No one’s personal ambition is worth the blood of innocent Haitian lives. Gangs in Haiti have taken over the country for the last week, forcing Haitians to stay home without access to food or water. The U.S. cannot turn its back on Haiti now. I look forward to working with my Republican colleagues to release the vital funding that Haiti needs."

Miami-Dade County Commissioner Marleine Bastien, who is also founder of Family Action Network Movement, is making another urgent plea to the Biden administration for U.S. military troops to quell the violence in Haiti.

"Ninety miles away from here Haitians are suffering," she said. "Their cries are falling on deaf ears."

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levin Cava sent a letter to the Biden administration underscoring the importance of coordination between federal agencies, local leaders and the Haitian community during the turmoil in Haiti.

"The ongoing political, security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti has profound implications due to our Haitian community and close proximity to the island," Cava said. "We propose a multi agency, in-person meeting as soon as possible with local and community leaders to discuss pressing issues related to the crisis unfolding in Haiti including airport closure, food and drinking water shortage and the recently announced U.S. Southern Command plans to mobilize support for the National Haiti Police."