With a possible impending tsunami of Haitians fleeing from the collapse of their island country, Florida’s state government, headed by Ron DeSantis, can look back on the previous year with some pride over their efforts to stem the tide so far.
In January 2023, DeSantis issued an executive order declaring a statewide state of emergency, making available state resources to aid the US Coast Guard in interdicting boats carrying illegal migrants headed to the Florida coast. Since that time, the combined state/federal force has interdicted 670 boats carrying more than 13,500 illegals.
In response to the recent Haitian unrest, Florida has added to the effort 48 soldiers from the Florida National State Guard, 133 troops from the Florida State Guard, 30 officers from Highway Patrol, along with additional helicopters.
In addition, the Florida legislature has passed and DeSantis has signed, the following bills:
HB 1589: Revises penalties for the offense of driving without valid driver license and requires a specified minimum jail sentence for repeat offenders
HB 1451: Prohibits Florida counties and cities from accepting certain ID cards or documents issued to people who enter the United States illegally
SB 1036: Enhances penalties for a crime committed by an individual who returned to the country illegally after deportation
Some states — Texas under Gov. Greg Abbott is another — have taken the initiative wholly lacking in the Biden administration to deal with the invasion.
For more, see Breitbart News.