The sheriff of Florida has drawn comparisons between photos of the U.S.-Mexico border to highlight the measures being taken to safeguard the state against potential mass migration from Haiti and other regions.
Haiti, located approximately 831 miles from Florida at its closest point, has captured the renewed focus of Florida officials. This follows a series of violent incidents involving gangs, which stemmed from a massive jailbreak involving over 4,500 inmates. These gangs now allegedly hold sway over around 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. As a result, the acting prime minister, Ariel Henry, is expected to be removed from power in the near future, pending the establishment of a transitional presidential council.
U.S. military officials have stated that they are expecting potential mass migration flows into the country. This comes after Florida Representative Matt Gaetz requested the preparation of Navy vessels to deter Haitian ships in the Atlantic. In response, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has deployed over 250 officers and soldiers from the Florida State Guard, Division of Emergency Management, and law enforcement agencies to the southern coast of the state.
“I’ll cut straight to the chase,” declared Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd during a press conference on Friday. “The governor explained in a remarkable manner how he’s working tirelessly to safeguard Florida, doing everything within his power to ensure our protection.”
“But you see, Congress and the executive branch need to understand the reality of a secure border versus an unsecure one. Here, I have a photo of a secure border [holds up photo], and here is a photo of an unsecure border [holds up another photo]. It’s clear to everyone except for those in the executive and congressional positions who seem to be completely oblivious to the difference.”
In the second photo, a group of migrants can be seen attempting to scale the border wall at an undisclosed location. The exact date of this picture is unknown, as reported by Newsweek.
During his visit to Polk County, DeSantis took the opportunity to sign three bills that aim to proactively assist law enforcement in deterring illegal immigration.
SB 1036 is a bill that seeks to strengthen penalties for individuals who commit a crime after illegally re-entering the country following deportation.
HB 1451 prohibits counties and municipalities from accepting ID cards issued to undocumented immigrants by other jurisdictions.
Operating a vehicle without a license becomes a more serious offense under HB 1589, as it raises the penalties for such individuals.
Florida Governor DeSantis expressed his satisfaction with the state’s pragmatic approach to immigration, highlighting the progress made in recent years. He emphasized the effective collaboration between Florida agencies in preventing illegal migration via the Atlantic Ocean. Governor DeSantis proudly shared that, since January 2023, their joint efforts have successfully intercepted 670 vessels, thwarting the entry of over 13,500 illegal migrants.
According to the speaker, it is highly discouraged to attempt to make the journey from the islands to Florida. He emphasizes that this is a dangerous undertaking and not worth pursuing.
In a recent incident, two Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) officers were on a nighttime water-based patrol near Sebastian Inlet in Brevard County. They came across a 42-foot vessel that was returning from offshore on February 29th.
According to a press release by FWC, the officers were aware that they had intercepted a human smuggling operation. The vessel’s operator was armed and onboard, indicating the seriousness of the situation. In addition, there were 25 individuals, including five unaccompanied children, who were attempting to enter the country illegally.
Officers discovered firearms, night-vision equipment, and drugs during the operation. The individuals operating the vessel, who were both U.S. citizens, were handed over to the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office. The case was subsequently referred to both the sheriff’s office and U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for further investigation.
According to Sheriff Eric Flowers, the Fish and Wildlife authorities noticed the approaching boat and promptly alerted the Indian River County Sheriff’s Department. When the boat failed to stop, they immediately requested additional assistance. Sheriff Flowers stated, “Our team arrived at the scene and provided support to the Fish and Wildlife officers.”
According to him, when two officers are able to make 25 apprehensions, it is considered a significant achievement.
According to Flowers, the officers were unable to spot all the individuals as they were lying down. He further added that the presence of a boat during that time of the day raised suspicions.
“It’s not something that you would typically expect to see people doing in the evening. It makes you question why this boat is passing through at this particular time. We often worry about drug trafficking, as it is a prevalent issue in these islands, and smugglers are willing to take risks to transport drugs.”