Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that “over 250 officers and soldiers” of the Florida State Guard and Division of Emergency Management, as well as law enforcement agencies will be deployed to the southern coast of the state amid concerns the political situation in Haiti may spark a wave of illegal immigration.

Context

Haiti is ravaged by political instability and gang-related violence. Ariel Henry, Haiti’s President, announced his resignation on Monday. Ariel Henry is in Puerto Rico, and has not been able to return to Haiti after a trip to Kenya last February 29, due to armed groups blocking the main airport of the capital.

Estimates say that gangs control 80 percent or more of Port-au-Prince, the capital city of Haiti. The U.S. evacuated all non-essential personnel from the embassy and has urged American citizens to leave.

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What We Know

DeSantis wrote in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter): “For quite a while, the State of Florida had been devoting significant resources to fight illegal vessels that were coming into Florida from countries like Haiti.

“Given that the situation in Haiti is so dire, I’ve directed the Division of Emergency Management and the Florida State Guard to send over 250 more officers, soldiers, and air and seacraft to the southern coast of Florida, to protect the state.

We cannot allow illegal aliens to enter Florida.

Newsweek was told by a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council that the number of illegal immigrants entering the U.S. through the Caribbean is low.

In reference to the situation in Haiti, they stated: “We’re clear-eyed about the fact that economic, security, and political instability are the main drivers of migrants all over the world.” We closely monitor the situation, and the routes that migrants use to reach our border. At this time, irregular migration through the Caribbean remains low.

Senior government officials warned Tuesday during a House Armed Services Committee meeting that the situation in Haiti might lead to a new migrant influx into the U.S.

When asked by Florida Republican Matt Gaetz whether there could be “a mass migration”, Department of Defense official Rebecca Zimmerman responded “we are aware of that possibility” and added “the driving conditions [in Haiti] could very well push more people to migrate.”

A Donald Trump-appointed Judge ruled on Friday against Texas and other Republican-led States who challenged a Biden Administration program that allows up to 30,000 asylum seekers each month from Haiti, Cuba and Venezuela.