Rick Scott: Biden’s policies brought border crisis to Florida

Published Jan. 20, 2023, 1:31 p.m. ET | Updated Jan. 20, 2023

Sen. Rick Scott tours with the Florida Keys Sheriff's Office after migrants arrive, Jan. 19, 2023.
Sen. Rick Scott tours with the Florida Keys Sheriff's Office after migrants arrive, Jan. 19, 2023.

FLORIDA KEYS (FLV) – Sen. Rick Scott said President Joe Biden’s border policies have “brought his illegal immigration crisis right to Florida’s front door.”

Scott took a trip to the Florida Keys and received a briefing from U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay, and Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations on their local response to the migrant crisis in the Florida Keys.

“What I saw during my tour with @mcsonews, @CBPAMO, @MyFWC and @USCG makes me furious and is absolutely heartbreaking. We MUST secure our border NOW,” he said.

Scott says the Biden administration has completely abandoned them and left them shorthanded.

On Friday, the U.S. Coast Guard reported crews interdicted 5,183 Cubans since Oct. 1, 2022.

Florida’s Voice previously reported hundreds of migrants were repatriated to Cuba earlier this month. 

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an executive order activating the Florida National Guard to help local governments respond to the “alarming influx” of migrants landing in the Florida Keys.

“As the negative impacts of Biden’s lawless immigration policies continue unabated, the burden of the Biden administration’s failure falls on local law enforcement who lack the resources to deal with the crisis,” DeSantis said. “When Biden continues to ignore his legal responsibilities, we will step in to support our communities.”

“We probably have 100-250 additional boots on the ground, manpower allocation on various assets of land, sea and air. So that’s awesome. It’s really doing a great job now,” Ramsay reportedly said. “The sustainability is the problem we have whether we can mitigate this and we don’t need it, if not, again, at the end of 60 days. Where are we at?”

In a press release, Scott said he will continue to hold the administration accountable.

Every state is a border state, and we cannot allow the communist Cuban regime to weaponize our LEGAL immigration system and take advantage. Florida is an immigration state, we encourage and welcome legal immigration—but it must be done LEGALLY. 

These evil regimes in Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua cannot continue to be emboldened by Biden’s appeasement and wide open borders.

WHERE IS MAYORKAS? WHERE IS BIDEN?

They don’t care, but I won’t stop fighting to fix this. I’m going to keep showing up, keep holding them accountable and not let up until we SECURE THE BORDER.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott

The governor’s office previously pointed out the burdens the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office face with 194 deputies. Florida’s Voice reported on Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay’s concerns after the migrants from Cuba arrived to the Florida Keys during the weekend.

About 300 illegal immigrants entered Dry Tortugas National Park, which is about 70 miles of Key West, on Jan. 1, 2023. Approximately 45 illegal immigrants entered Key West at that time, according to the governor’s office. The massive influx led to the park’s closure in order to provide space for the illegal immigrants.

Earlier in January, Sen. Marco Rubio and staffers from Rep. Carlos Gimenez’s office flew to the Florida Keys for an update.

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