In an interview with Newsmax in mid-March, Florida Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez said that the state is preparing itself to deal with a large number of illegal migrants fleeing Haiti, a country that is now experiencing a surge of violence.
At the beginning of the month, criminal organizations started launching coordinated attacks against government buildings, which are the last remaining institutions of the Haitian state.
The Haitian capital’s airport, police stations, and the National Penitentiary were among the public institutions and government structures targeted by several criminal groups in recent weeks, according to a report. City residents have experienced a lack of food, gasoline, and water for weeks due to the unrest.
Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry agreed to step down at the beginning of March, marking the climax of years of intensifying gang control and widespread turmoil. But the gesture has been fruitless in reestablishing calm.
The deputy governor said that Florida had been making preparations for this scenario since January of 2023, when Governor Ron DeSantis signed a directive to save the coastlines, according to Nuñez during her interview with Newsmax.
Despite not being a typical border state, Florida is being disproportionately affected by the increase in illegal immigration, which is why Nuñez said that Florida has ensured the presence of both sea and air patrols. Therefore, they are getting ready for what may turn out to be a very dangerous scenario. A large number of inmates have reportedly been released from Haiti’s prisons, prompting the governor to take extreme measures to ensure the safety of Floridians.
Nuñez said she does not anticipate an improvement in the federal government’s handling of the Haitian crisis from President Joe Biden, who presides over a dismal tenure at the border.
Kidnapping, criminality, social upheaval, and a lack of adequate medical facilities have prompted the United States Department of State to issue a Level 4 Do Not Travel warning for Haiti.
