Pentagon officials testified in Congress that the Department of Defense (DOD) is preparing for an unprecedented influx of Haitians into the United States following the collapse of law and order on the island.
The warning came after Rep. Matt Gaetz asked “what we are doing to prepare for that wave?”
Gaetz also asked what was being done “to ensure that these people are not paroled into the United States as the administration has done with people on the southern border, but instead are repatriated back at the dock at Port-au-Prince?”
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Global Security Rebecca Zimmerman said the DoD is “doing several things to ensure that we’re keeping track of the situation and we’re prepared.”
“At the moment we have not yet seen large numbers, what we would characterise as a maritime mass migration, but we are alert to that possibility,” he said.
“I think you’re right that the driving conditions in Haiti could very well press more people,” Zimmerman further noted.
Gaetz further grilled the Pentagon official to consider deploying more naval vessels to support the Coast Guard, noting that “there is the ability for any president to designate an anticipated mass migration, and get gray hull naval vessels into the straits of Florida to deter that migration and then to repatriate those people before they get to Florida.”
“I think you correctly said that there is an anticipated mass migration here, there are specific legal authorities that we can access that I would implore you to access, specifically, George W. Bush signed Executive Order 13276,” Gaetz pointed out.
Watch
Following my questioning of DoD officials on the collapsing state of Haiti, the Biden Administration will now contemplate using the Department of Defense & the U.S. Navy to STOP the anticipated mass migration of Haitians into Florida! https://t.co/umJ01AqY2L pic.twitter.com/V3YoW4nG5K
— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) March 12, 2024
Meanwhile, border agents in Miami have been told to prepare for the massive wave of Haitian migrants.
The New York Post reported:
An internal agency email leaked to The Post pointed out it is unlikely Haitians who take to the sea and enter Florida illegally will be repatriated back to their home country, given its instability.
The message also warned that one vessel of migrants landing would overwhelm agency capabilities in the area.
“One landing will cripple the station and our ability to respond to other traffic,” the email to agents read.
Roughly 15,000 people have been internally displaced in recent days due to the gang takeover of the country, according to the UN.
The gangs have wreaked violence and terror through the burning of buildings, lootings, attacks on police stations and government infrastructure resulting in the closure of hospitals, disease and starvation.
“With the breakdown of the government in Haiti repatriating Haitians may not be happening for the foreseeable future,” the email read. “If this is the case, then the Coast Guard may not be stopping Haitian sail freighter[s].”
Border Patrol officials are concerned that if Haitian migrants reach Florida’s shores it will be difficult to contain the groups, transport them in a timely fashion for processing and identify fraudulent families, the email read.
“The hardest part is keeping the landing contained to a given area. We will want to have medical (local EMS) on scene to check on those who will need it,” the email read.
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