Fact check: Florida personnel can curb illegal aliens, migrant boats get turned away
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Republican congressional candidate’s claims drew a correction from Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office over criticisms that Florida has no true authority to deal with illegal aliens attempting to enter the state from its southern waters, but that agents deployed this week will merely “do nothing.”
The claims were made by Anthony Sabatini, who is running for Congress to represent Florida’s 11th District.
“GUESS what you will not see today? An explanation from Governor DeSantis or his staff of what SPECIFIC orders have been given to the state assets sent to southeast Florida in response to the Haitian invasion,” Sabatini said this week after the governor had deployed troops and other resources to the Keys and southern waters in anticipation of an uptick in Haitian migrants.
“They have been told to go to South Florida, stage there, and do nothing,” Sabatini claimed, going on to say that the waters are controlled by the federal government and U.S. Coast Guard, and thus, Florida’s deployment is rendered useless.
However, while those waters are under federal jurisdiction, Florida’s agents do play a large role in helping federal authorities turn away migrants and boats full of migrants coming in from the south.
“Vessels stopped are repatriated to country of origin,” said Bryan Griffin, communications director for DeSantis. “And if individuals are found swimming, they can be detained by Florida LEOs and relinquished to the Coast Guard for repatriation.”
Griffin had disputed Sabatini’s claims that the Coast Guard isn’t turning away “illegal invaders.”
As part of Operation Vigilant Sentry, authorities turn away boats and migrants.
Those actions take place as part of Operation Vigilant Sentry, which was supported this week with DeSantis sending more support to the southern waters.
With the governor’s orders, up to 133 Florida State Guard soldiers will be deployed to assist.
Agencies currently have security and surveillance capabilities stationed in the region to prevent illegal immigration.
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,” DeSantis said.
This week, the U.S. Coast Guard that operates in Florida’s general region turned away dozens of migrants back to Haiti. They received food, water, medical attention and shelter.
