Emerald Coast Times

Washington, D.C. — U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz, along with Reps. Gus Bilirakis, Anna Paulina Luna, and Daniel Webster, have formally requested President Joe Biden to declare an "anticipated mass migration of aliens en route to, or arriving off the coast of, the United States" as urgent circumstances requiring an immediate federal response. This request aims to address the potential influx of Haitian migrants into Florida and prevent undue burdens on the state.

During a recent House Armed Services Committee hearing, General Laura Richardson emphasized the need for preparedness to address the threat of mass migration from Haiti, stating, "I think that we need to be postured appropriately [to address the threat of mass migration from Haiti], for that is exactly what you're talking about." When asked about utilizing Department of Defense assets for this purpose, General Richardson confirmed, "I'm requested to do that. I will definitely do that."

In response to the situation, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the deployment of additional law enforcement resources to southern regions of the state in anticipation of a potential wave of Haitian migrants. However, the congressmen believe that these resources may not be sufficient to handle the scale of the expected migration. Therefore, they are urging President Biden to utilize federal authorities to reinforce Florida's efforts by conducting maritime interdictions and repatriating Haitian migrants back to their home country.

The congressmen expressed their concerns in a letter to President Biden, stating, "We urge you to engage the necessary assets to conduct maritime interdictions and interceptions of Haitians under 46 U.S. Code § 70051 and Executive Order 13276 and repatriate them to Port-au-Prince, Haiti."

This proactive approach seeks to address the challenges posed by the anticipated mass migration from Haiti and ensure a coordinated and effective response to protect the interests of both the United States and Haiti.