Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz is leading the call for President Biden to authorize the deployment of the US Navy to thwart a possible invasion of Haitian migrants.
Led by Gaetz, a group of GOP representatives from Florida sent an official request to President Joe Biden Monday, calling for him to use his presidential authorities to declare “an anticipated mass migration from Haiti aliens en route to the United States” through Florida.
The president’s declaration would enable the United States Navy to support Florida’s efforts to execute maritime interdictions and repatriate Haitians.
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“We believe the resources are insufficient to address the scope and scale of the anticipated mass migration. A declaration pursuant to Executive Order 13276 is necessary to reinforce the State of Florida’s efforts by utilizing Department of Defense vessels to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of aliens from Haiti and repatriate them, preferably to Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as this limits the financial obligation of U.S. taxpayers,” said the congressmembers.
In the letter to President Biden, the congressmembers added, “We urge you to engage the necessary assets to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of Haitians under 46 U.S. Code § 70051 and Executive Order 13276 and repatriate them to Port-au-Prince, Haiti.”
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Florida will deploy additional law enforcement resources to the southern regions of the state in anticipation of a possible wave of Haitian migrants as the Caribbean country struggles amid street violence and political instability.
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“Given the situation that’s happening in Haiti, some brutal reports that are happening, we want to make sure that we’re protecting Floridians,” DeSantis said Friday.
The governor’s office cited the “potential for invasion” as the reason for this action. The additional personnel, along with aircraft and boats, are intended to prevent Haitian migrants from reaching Florida’s shores.
DeSantis said Friday that state law enforcement intercepted a boat of possible illegal Haitian immigrants with weapons and narcotics.
“Our Florida Fish and Wildlife officers interdicted a vessel that had 25 illegal immigrants, potential illegal immigrants, from Haiti. In their boat, in their vessel, they had firearms, they had drugs, they had night vision gear, and they were boating very recklessly, which would potentially endanger other folks,” DeSantis said.
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The recent episode of violence in Haiti began on February 29, when Prime Minister Henry flew to Kenya to seek support for a U.N.-backed deployment of a police force to combat the gangs.
However, upon his departure, prominent gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier declared that his group, G9, was joining forces with other gangs to force Henry’s resignation. Heavy gunfire erupted in the capital as chaos ensued.
In response to the escalating violence, Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, serving as the acting prime minister in Henry’s absence, declared a state of emergency on March 3. He also implemented an evening curfew to regain control of the situation.
Cherizier further warned that if Henry did not step down and if the international community continued to support him, Haiti would descend into a civil war with genocidal consequences.
U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01), along with Reps. Gus Bilirakis (FL-12), Anna Paulina Luna (FL-13), and Daniel Webster (FL-11), sent an official request to President Joe Biden on Monday.
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