South Lake Today

Florida Congressman Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, along with Representatives Matt Gaetz, Gus Bilirakis, and Anna Paulina Luna, have urged President Biden to authorize the U.S. Navy to stop the anticipated mass migration of Haitians towards the United States. The lawmakers sent a letter to President Biden requesting him to declare the situation as urgent circumstances requiring immediate federal response.

During a House Armed Services Committee hearing, General Laura Richardson of the United States Southern Command expressed the need to be prepared to address the threat of mass migration from Haiti. She stated, "I think that we need to be postured appropriately [to address the threat of mass migration from Haiti]." Additionally, she confirmed that she had put in a request for increased capability to deal with a potential mass migration.

In response to the anticipated influx of Haitian migrants, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the deployment of additional law enforcement resources to southern regions of the state. However, the lawmakers believe that these resources may be insufficient to handle the scale of the migration. They are calling for the use of Department of Defense vessels to conduct maritime interdictions and repatriate Haitian migrants back to Haiti.

In their letter to President Biden, the lawmakers emphasized the necessity of engaging the necessary assets to prevent the migration and repatriate the migrants to Port-au-Prince, Haiti. They are urging the President to take action under relevant statutes and Executive Orders to address the situation effectively.