DeSantis Orders Florida Resources to Stop Haitian Migrants Despite No Sign of Increased Activity

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, anticipating what his office called the “possibility for invasion," ordered more than 250 law enforcement officers and soldiers to the Florida Keys on Wednesday to stop Haitian migrants fleeing violence — or nearly two people deployed for every Haitian migrant who has been repatriated by the U.S. Coast Guard in the last five months.

Haitian migrants have tried to make the journey to Florida by boat from the impoverished nation for years. DeSantis already sent state resources to the Keys last year in what he said was an attempt to stop migrants. He issued Wednesday's order for additional personnel along with aircraft and boats after violence in Haiti spiked in recent days.

But so far, the Coast Guard hasn't seen increased migrant traffic in the waters off Florida.