ISLAMORADA, Fla. – A Florida Highway Patrol trooper pulled into an encampment tucked away off the Overseas Highway Friday evening where additional state law enforcement is expected to arrive in the Florida Keys.
It comes in the wake of heightened violence in Haiti following Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation and ongoing efforts to establish a transitional government, compounded by a surge in gang-related incidents and an extended curfew.
Concerns continue to mount over the possibility of a mass exodus towards the U.S.
The fenced-off camp in Islamorada, equipped with trailers for sleeping, laundry, and food, has stood for approximately a year, initially established when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis bolstered state resources to the Keys in January 2023 amid a wave of desperate arrivals from Cuba and Haiti.
Despite the absence of credible intelligence suggesting imminent sea crossings by Haitians, authorities remain vigilant.
The Homeland Security Task Force Southeast is closely monitoring the situation, emphasizing that irregular migration remains minimal but asserting readiness to respond.
Meanwhile, political tensions surrounding border security persist. DeSantis maintains that his state-level initiatives are yielding results, asserting a commitment to addressing the ongoing challenges at the border.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 65 Haitians intercepted off the Bahamas and in Washington, at a congressional hearing, leaders from the Southern Command said that contingency planning is underway for a potential “mass migration” event.
DeSantis also confirmed that on Feb. 29, a vessel transporting 24 men, women, and children from Haiti was intercepted at the Sebastian Inlet, marking a thwarted smuggling attempt.
“They had firearms, they had drugs, they had night vision gear,” he affirmed at a press conference in Winter Haven Friday. “In Florida, we will continue to do what we can to ensure security and stability.”