Senators Scott and Rubio call on President Biden to develop a strategy to address the surge of migrants from Haiti.
‘We must consider this danger due to the numerous reports of gangs committing jailbreaks in Haiti and releasing thousands of dangerous criminals.’
Two senators from Florida, Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), are urging President Joe Biden to address the potential challenge of an influx of Haitian migrants into the United States amid political and social turmoil in the Caribbean nation.
“Floridians and the rest of the American public will not accept your administration’s continuation of opening the floodgates for numerous unvetted foreign nationals to enter our country, jeopardizing our national security and creating significant public safety risks for our communities,” the letter stated. “We must take into account this danger given the numerous reports of gangs orchestrating jailbreaks in Haiti and releasing thousands of dangerous criminals.”
Haiti plunged into turmoil following the declaration of a state of emergency earlier this month as clashes intensified between government forces and criminal gangs. Prime Minister Ariel Henry is currently in Kenya to finalize an agreement for a long-delayed U.N.-backed security mission to restore order in the country, which has been grappling with gang violence since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021.
In their letter, the senators criticized President Biden and his administration for the ongoing crisis at the southern border, stating, “Since taking office, your administration has permitted over 8 million individuals to cross our southern border, including uncounted foreign nationals who have been released into the country.”
“You are fostering an environment for illegal immigration, appeasing oppressive governments, and placing Americans at risk, while simultaneously expecting taxpayers to cover the costs of the resulting unrest, humanitarian dilemmas, and mass border crossings,” the Senators added.
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The senators highlighted FBI Director Christopher Wray’s testimony, emphasizing the risks faced by Americans due to the administration’s open border policies.
Mr. Wray also expressed concerns about a specific human smuggling network with ties to ISIS and an escalated threat level of terrorist plots against the United States by foreign terrorist groups, a scenario not seen in a long time according to the FBI director.
Florida Prepares
Governor of Florida Ron DeSantis announced on March 13 that he has allocated significant resources to prepare for a potential surge of migrants into the state.
During a March 12 House Armed Services Committee hearing, Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) also voiced concerns, predicting an increase in the number of individuals leaving the island, stating that the current trickle will likely escalate in the coming weeks.
Guantanamo Bay
On March 12, a high-ranking Pentagon official stated during testimony that the United States currently has no plans to deploy troops to Haiti or activate its maritime mass migration protocol, allowing the Coast Guard and Navy to intercept and return illegal immigrant flotillas to their point of origin or a third-party port.
The naval station at Guantanamo Bay has previously been used to handle and return illegal Haitian immigrants, and it remains a potential option for the future if maritime migration patterns worsen, as indicated by Mr. Kirby.
Amid Haiti’s ongoing gang warfare and humanitarian crisis, some citizens are opting to flee the country by boat towards the United States.
The Coast Guard intercepted a vessel carrying 65 illegal Haitian immigrants near Great Inagua, Bahamas, on March 7 and repatriated them back to Haiti.
Jacob Burg and John Haughey contributed to this report.
