DeSantis administration creates portal to help Floridians in Haiti

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida’s Division of Emergency Management has created a new portal to give Floridians in Haiti an avenue to submit information and seek assistance as the island country faces political upheaval and violence.

The portal can be accessed here.

It prompts Floridians to enter their name, exact location, passport details, party details, desired return location and other notes.

“If you need help or know of Floridians who need help in Haiti, please complete the form,” the form states.

“We will do everything possible to help Floridians and Americans who are in need of help in Haiti,” said Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie.

“I encourage those with needs to visit the portal today,” Guthrie said.

The assistance portal comes as Gov. Ron DeSantis announced this week he is ordering troops and law enforcement to the southern Florida waters and Florida Keys to help prevent illegal aliens entering the state, should there be an uptick in Haitian migrants.

“For quite some time, the state of Florida has been dedicating significant resources to combat illegal vessels coming to Florida from countries such as Haiti,” DeSantis announced Wednesday.

“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 sea craft to the southern coast of Florida to protect our state,” he said.

The governor’s office said Wednesday that the new directive will send more personnel totaling over 250 officers.

“No state has done more to supplement the (under-resourced) U.S. Coast Guard’s interdiction efforts; we cannot have illegal aliens coming to Florida,” he said.

DeSantis’ administration also casted blame on the Biden administration for illegal migrants feeling “empowered” to intrude on American soil. The state described the current situation as fending off a potential “invasion.”

Florida’s southern coast is around 600 miles from Haiti.

This week, the U.S. Coast Guard that operates in Florida’s region turned away dozens of migrants back to Haiti. They received food, water, medical attention and shelter.