Miami, January 10 (EFE) following the decision of the governor, Ron Desantis, to declare a state of emergency.
The FDEM is in “close communication with local governments and law enforcement partners” (…), and we will continue to deploy all available resources and manpower” to stem the “influx of migrants” arriving in the Florida Keys, Kevin Guthrie, director of this division, said in a statement.
Last week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency and deployed the National Guard following the arrival by sea of numerous Cuban and Haitian migrants to this southern state.
THE CUBAN AND HAITIAN MIGRATORY WAVE BY SEA
This measure allows for the mobilization of National Guard troops and the allocation of huge new state resources to deal with the wave of migration that is hitting the south of the state.
Cuban-born Republican Senator Marco Rubio attributed this new wave of immigration, especially Cubans and Haitians, to US President Joe Biden’s “failed immigration policies.”
Rubio met with commanders of the US Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), among other institutions, on Tuesday and said, after praising the Coast Guard’s “dedication”, that “they can’t do it alone alone” and that the Biden administration “must act to enforce the law.”
A few hours after the signing of the executive order by the Republican DeSantis, the FDEM activated the so-called State Emergency Operations Center and placed it at level 2, in order to facilitate the coordination of state assets.
This division indicated in the release that, to date, “more than 300 boats have been identified for removal with 299 landings and 5,184 immigrants”.
Between December 30 and January 5 alone, “more than 1,100 Cubans and Haitians arrived in the Florida Keys,” in the far south of this southern state, Rubio warned.
FDEM is currently working in partnership with the Florida National Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) to “increase coastal surveillance and provide better awareness of of migrants”.
According to the FDEM, the National Guard mobilized 12 aircraft or “air assets” and deployed between 100 and 150 members of this volunteer reserve force.
The first deployment of police forces began arriving in the Florida Keys on Saturday, and will continue with additional operations “as needed.”
For its part, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) has mobilized two dozen officers in Monroe County, in the southern tip of Florida.
The “first wave” of this police force began arriving in the state’s Keys on Jan. 7, “and will continue with additional deployments,” as the FHP has deployed 25 officers, 2 aircraft, and 1 mobile command bus to the area. of operations.
On Monday, the Florida branch of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called for not “politicizing” the immigration issue or “further dividing” the population of a US state that has thrived “thanks to the contributions of people from from all over the world.
“Our democracy works best when people seeking refuge are welcomed and protected,” underlined the statement, in which the ACLU criticizes the Florida governor for his immigration policy and accuses him of wanting to “make political points.” at the expense of people who “seek protection from violence and persecution.
So far in fiscal 2023, which began Oct. 1, the U.S. Coast Guard has already intercepted 4,915 Cuban immigrants in Florida Strait waters, up from 6,182 intercepted during all of 2022.
In the 2021 and 2019 fiscal periods, 838 and 49 Cubans, respectively, were intercepted. EFE extension
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