The Department of Homeland Security is preparing for a potential surge in illegal immigration from Haiti as violence and turmoil continue to grip the country. With gangs wreaking havoc and releasing thousands of inmates, it’s no surprise that people may try to flee the dangerous situation.
In a statement to Fox News Digital, DHS made it clear that any illegal immigrants arriving in the US by boat, including from Haiti, will face “immediate repatriation.” This is a necessary step to protect our borders and enforce our laws. After all, it is not fair to those who have followed our immigration process legally to let others skip the line.
As Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis showed, this is a matter of national security. He has deployed soldiers and officers, as well as aircraft and boats, to patrol the southern coast of Florida to protect the state from illegal immigrants.
“Given the circumstances in Haiti, I have directed the Division of Emergency Management, the Florida State Guard, and state law enforcement agencies to deploy over 250 additional officers and soldiers and over a dozen air and seacraft to the southern coast of Florida to protect our state,” he said.
Despite these actions, DHS made it clear that they are monitoring the situation closely and will continue to work with international partners and the State Department. However, they also emphasized that migration flows through the Caribbean remain low.
“All irregular migration journeys, especially maritime routes, are extremely dangerous, unforgiving, and often result in loss of life. DHS will continue to enforce U.S. laws and policy throughout the Florida Straits and the Caribbean region.”
“U.S. policy is to return noncitizens who do not have a fear of persecution or torture or a legal basis to enter the United States. Those interdicted at sea are subject to immediate repatriation pursuant to our longstanding policy and procedures. The United States returns or repatriates migrants interdicted at sea to The Bahamas, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti.”
In addition to enforcing our laws, the Biden administration is expanding lawful pathways for migrants, including the controversial parole program that allows up to 30,000 Haitian nationals to enter the US each month. While this may seem like a humanitarian gesture, it also opens the door to potential fraud and abuse of our immigration system.
And as Rebecca Zimmerman, assistant secretary of defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, noted, the Pentagon is “alert” to the possibility of a mass migration event. While we have not yet seen large numbers, the driving conditions in Haiti could very likely push more people to try to enter the US illegally.
