DeSantis May Send Illegal Haitian Immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard

Republican presidential candidate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to his supporters after finding out the 2024 Iowa caucuses results at the Sheraton Hotel in West Des Moines, Iowa, on Jan. 15, 2024. (Madalina Vasiliu/The Epoch Times)

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis indicated recently that he may once again send illegal immigrants to affluent inland areas of the country if too many foreigners arrive in Florida, particularly from Haiti.

During a March 19 interview with Dana Loesch on her radio program, “The Dana Show,” Mr. DeSantis shared his plans to prevent an influx of illegal Haitian immigrants fleeing social unrest in the Caribbean country.

“We do have our transport program, also, that’s going to be operational. So, Haitians land in the Florida Keys, their next stop very well may be Martha’s Vineyard,” he said.

In 2022, Gov. Ron DeSantis gained the national spotlight when he sent illegal immigrants on chartered flights to the affluent island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, in an effort to challenge the Biden administration over the illegal immigration issue.

Mr. DeSantis announced on March 13 that he had committed significant resources to prepare for potential mass migration into his state. He said he would deploy over 250 additional police officers and state guard soldiers, as well as air and sea craft, to combat illegal immigrants coming to Florida from countries such as Haiti.

Catching Them at Sea

In the interview, the Florida governor emphasized that interdicting and returning illegal immigrants at sea, before they reach U.S. soil, would deter them from attempting such journeys. He stressed the importance of intercepting vessels from Haiti before they make landfall, highlighting that “sending them back is easy” if they are caught at sea.

“Once they get into our country, then the federal government will give them a lot of rights,” he said.

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“Since January of 2023, the state of Florida has interdicted 660 vessels and repelled over 13,000 illegal aliens,” Mr. DeSantis said. “And that’s just the state of Florida’s vessels. The Coast Guard has been doing it as well.”

On Feb. 29, Florida authorities intercepted a vessel of 24 illegal Haitian immigrants. The vessel also contained drugs, guns, and night vision equipment. On March 7, the Coast Guard interdicted a vessel of 65 illegal Haitian immigrants near Great Inagua, Bahamas, before repatriating them back to Haiti.

Furthermore, Mr. DeSantis noted that Florida has not experienced a significant influx of illegal Haitian immigrants because most choose to enter the United States via the southern border with Mexico, as it is safer than traveling by sea through the Florida straits.

In May 2023, the Florida governor signed an immigration bill that he called the toughest bill in the country, imposing penalties and strict restrictions on illegal immigrants in Florida.

Haiti fell into chaos as the government declared a state of emergency earlier in March when fighting escalated between government forces and criminal gangs.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), co-chair of the House Haiti Caucus, criticized Mr. DeSantis’ remarks.

“That DeSantis would continue exploiting vulnerable families is unconscionable but unsurprising from a failed presidential candidate seeking to stay relevant,” Ms. Pressley said in a statement on March 20. “Families fleeing unspeakable violence in Haiti and other countries deserve to be met with compassion—not to be used as pawns in Republicans’ cruel political games. It is far past time to take federal action to stabilize Haiti and save lives.”

Lawmakers Call on Biden to Act

Meanwhile, federal lawmakers from Florida are calling for a plan from President Joe Biden to confront mass migration from Haiti.

On March 15, Sens. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent a letter to President Biden asking for his plan to prevent and stop a possible influx of Haitians into the United States.

The senators warned that the current open-border policy could lead to mass migration into the United States and have a “direct negative impact on American families” across the country. “We must consider this danger due to the numerous reports of gangs committing jailbreaks in Haiti and releasing thousands of dangerous criminals,” they said.

In addition, a group of four Florida Republicans in Congress—Reps. Matt Gaetz, Gus Bilirakis, Anna Paulina Luna, and Daniel Webster—sent a letter to President Biden on March 18 urging him to authorize the U.S. Navy to assist in preventing a possible Haitian invasion.

The president’s declaration would enable the U.S. Navy to support Florida’s efforts to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of migrants from Haiti and repatriate them, according to the letter.

The lawmakers also urged President Biden “to engage the necessary assets” to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of Haitians and repatriate them to Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti.

Mr. Gaetz also raised his concerns during a March 12 House Armed Services Committee hearing. He predicted that what is now a trickle leaving the island “will accelerate” in the coming weeks.

Jacob Burg and Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.