2024-03-15 12:00:43
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that state law enforcement seized a boat off the shore with 25 Haitians who had firearms, drugs, and night vision gear.
“Our Florida Fish and Wildlife offices 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 were boating very recklessly, which would potentially endanger other folks,” DeSantis said, adding that the interdiction had occurred “recently” in the last few weeks.
“That vessel was interdicted near the Sebastian Inlet and those illegal aliens were turned over to the Coast Guard for deportation,” he said.
The incident happened on February 29.
DeSantis made the announcement when he signed legislation to counter any possible illegal immigration due to Haiti spiraling into turmoil. He expects to see more Haitians along the Florida Keys:
The group sent to the Keys includes a mix of Florida Department of Law Enforcement and FWC officers along with members of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard.
The state will also deploy four helicopters, a plane, eight seacraft and drones to help interdict migrants.
“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.
DeSantis also told the media that Florida has been working with the U.S. Coast Guard since January 2023 to patrol the shores to stop illegal immigrants.
They’ve stop 670 vessels with over 13,500 people.
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