Florida is bracing for impact amid the escalating violence in Haiti. Anticipating a potential surge of migrants from the Caribbean nation, governor Ron DeSantis has deployed additional officers and assets to South Florida and the Keys.
More than 250 additional officers and soldiers, along with over a dozen air and seacraft, are being dispatched to the southern coast of Florida. Personnel from agencies such as the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the Florida National Guard, and the Florida Highway Patrol are all part of this deployment.
Furthermore, the governor’s directive includes the authorization of deploying up to 133 soldiers from the Florida State Guard to the Keys, reinforcing the operation.
As tensions rise, the situation in Haiti has prompted concerns among Haitian families in South Florida and has led to disruptions in humanitarian efforts, such as those undertaken by Missionary Flights International. With ongoing violence and political instability in Haiti, there’s a growing fear among its citizens, leading some to seek refuge in the United States.
The determination of some Haitian citizens to escape, despite the risks of irregular migration routes, has put Florida on high alert regarding the potential influx of migrants while dealing with the broader humanitarian crisis unfolding in Haiti.