Efforts by Florida to thwart illegal immigration from Haiti were underway prior to announcements by Gov. Ron DeSantis this week of his state’s increased security efforts.
A vessel from Haiti was intercepted two weeks ago with 25 refugees aboard, DeSantis said during a news conference in Winter Haven on Friday.
These Haitian refugees did not present the typical image of ragged people huddled on a makeshift raft of lashed-together innertubes and 50-gallon drums.
Rather, video showed an apparently well-equipped boat with four large outboard marine motors.
Onboard with the refugees were guns, drugs and night vision equipment, DeSantis said.
He said the Haitians were turned over to the U.S. Coast Guard for deportation.
Despite Florida’s beefed-up security, the governor and former GOP presidential candidate lamented the relative ease by which Haitians could get to Mexico and then walk across the border with essentially the blessing of President Joe Biden and his administration.
“Our Florida Fish and Wildlife officers interdicted a vessel that had 25 illegal immigrants — potential illegal immigrants — from Haiti in their boat,” DeSantis said.
“In their vessel they had firearms, they had drugs, they had night vision gear and were boating very recklessly, which would potentially endanger other folks,” he said.
BREAKING: Gov. Ron DeSantis announces Florida agents have interdicted a vessel that had 25 suspected illegal aliens from Haiti
“They had firearms, they had drugs […] That vessel was interdicted [and] those illegal aliens were turned over to the Coast Guard for deportation.” pic.twitter.com/LIRBuEwFiO
— Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) March 15, 2024
Authorities stopped the boat at Sebastian Inlet on Florida’s Atlantic coast, about 80 southeast of Orlando.
Joining Florida Fish and Wildlife officers who made the interdiction were other agencies, including the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department, which on March 1 released a video showing the stopped craft.
Although initial reports indicated 24 immigrants were aboard the vessel, DeSantis said there were 25. The date of the incident shown in the video was Feb. 29.
On Wednesday, DeSantis announced more border security efforts on the part of state agencies, including the Florida State Guard and the Florida National Guard.
On Friday, he signed three bills to combat illegal immigration.
Last year, I signed the toughest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country. Today, I signed three more bills to build on the work we have done to protect Floridians from the impacts of the border crisis. pic.twitter.com/oZHpYvyzFR
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 15, 2024
“Our folks have been doing this [enforcement] before we augmented this [increased effort],” the governor said during the news conference.
“And they’re going to continue to do it, and we’ve got an incredible amount of resources that are now on display to be able to prevent [illegal immigration],” he continued.
“Now what’s different today than maybe in the past?” DeSantis said. “Well, part of it is we have more resources that the state has been willing to put up.
“And this is not really our responsibility – this is the federal government’s responsibility. Coast Guard does by and large a good job, but they’re undermanned, they’re underresourced. So we’re filling those gaps.
“I think one difference now is — and we see this with our folks that we have at the border — you have people coming across the southern border from all over the world. Haitians can get to the United States easier by flying to Mexico and walking across the border.”
The governor predicted when flights resume from Haiti, most refugees will fly to Mexico “and then come in through the border, knowing that Biden will just let everybody in.”
And on it goes, as every world crisis seemingly allows Biden and other Democrats to secure more illegal-immigrants-to-be-turned-into-party-voters in their continuing efforts to remain in power and undermine the republic.
kill the MFs, and send the dead bodies back that ASS HOLE Barbecue
Barbecue the devil’s and send Barbecue his monthly rashions of meat!!!
I truly admire Gov Desantis. He and Abbott are doing for our country what should be done. Unlike the jackass in the WH who is bringing in all kinds of illegals. You do your job well Desantis and those who still love their country truly appreciate your hard work and determination. Safe sailings to those who protect our waters, they too put their lives in danger every day.
BETTER STOP THEM NOW ….THEY CARRY DISEASES THAT WE DONT HAVE…LET THEM KNOW NOW WE CANT TAKE ANYONE ELSE…
IT is easy to see their plan; Florida and Texas have been the main 2 states to stand up for their citizens with so many nasty things the gov. has thrown at them. And we see now the destruction of Texas with the total flooding of illegals, now we will see Florida in the same boat with the illegals fleeing Haiti. And sadly the ones coming across our borders are not wonderful sweet peoples just wanting to assimilate to our society and cultures… Newspaper and news stations that will report the truth show a different picture of many that are coming across those borders… There is no guessing what this corrupt system is up to. They truly Hate the American citizen as NO sound leader or his staff would allow what they are Allowing much less promoting it and aiding it with free airway fares, money to live on , and jobs through their dealing with corporations to fire or lay off American legal citizens and replacing them with illegals; all done through the gov. … There is no conspiracy theory; those are cold hard facts… We are witnessing an administration that is willfully and wantingly destroying our society and basic needs to live a normal life.. We Must Stop Them !! Or we will have Nothing at all but suffering and torment as our oppressors are our government officials.. THEY must be REMOVED before we are left penniless and starving …