One day after federal officials removed hundreds of migrants who landed on a sparsely populated island west of the Florida Keys, Gov. Ron DeSantis activated the Florida National Guard in response to the spike of migrants reaching Florida.
The executive order, dated Friday, reports that the number of people attempting to get into the United States and Florida “have risen to alarming levels not seen in decades.” The order referred to the landings at Dry Tortugas National Park last weekend and a group of 45 migrants who landed in the Keys themselves on Thursday. The order claims that more migrants are on the way, creating a need for a response.
JUST IN: @GovRonDeSantis Signs Executive Order and Activates National Guard to Combat the Influx of Illegal Immigrants in the Florida Keys! Boats filled with illegal Hatians have been washing up recently! pic.twitter.com/IS9AkQM46D
— Chris Nelson 🇺🇸 🏝 (@ReOpenChris) January 6, 2023
🚨🚨🚨BREAKING: Governor DeSantis has declared a state of emergency over the migration crisis due to the uncontrolled flow of unauthorized aliens across the southern border and boats landing in Florida.
More details to come. (h/t @Julio_Rosas11) pic.twitter.com/ioCIRh4qD1
— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) January 6, 2023
DeSantis is not exaggerating the size of the spike. More than 500 Cubans arrived in a group of sparsely inhabited islands off Key West since Friday, according to the Miami Herald. So many landed that the federal government was forced to close the Dry Tortugas National Park on Sunday. A total of 190 migrants arrived elsewhere in the keys over New Years’ weekend and the following Monday.
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DeSantis’s office detailed how the national guard would be used in a news release.
“The State of Florida will deploy air assets, including airplanes and helicopters from the Florida National Guard, and will bolster Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine patrol to support water interdictions and ensure the safety of migrants attempting to reach Florida through the Florida Straits,”
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Republican Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay said at an event sponsored by U.S. Sen. Rick Scott Wednesday that he wants more help from Joe Biden regarding immigration.
“I’m experiencing about 10 migrant loads per day in my small county, which for me, resources wise, is very challenging, “I’m sympathetic for the migrants who come here — I want them to have a happy life. But we have to have a plan.”
As if in response, the Biden administration signaled a tougher stance on migrants coming from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela on Thursday, in sharp contrast to his previous policy preferences. The democratic president softened the blow to the desires of his base by offering a new path for migrants from those countries to enter legally.
However, DeSantis continues to keep up the pressure on the president, demanding actions, not words, to alleviate the crisis.
“As the negative impacts of Biden’s lawless immigration policies continue unabated, the burden of the Biden administration’s failure falls on local law enforcement who lack the resources to deal with the crisis. That is why I am activating the National Guard and directing state resources to help alleviate the strain on local resources. When Biden continues to ignore his legal responsibilities, we will step in to support our communities.”
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