Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Executive Order and Activates National Guard to Provide Support as Biden Administration Ignores Alarming Influx of Migrants to Florida Keys

Press release from the Office of Governor Ron DeSantis

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Executive Order (EO) 23- 03 (Emergency Management – Illegal Migration), activating the Florida National Guard, directing state law enforcement agencies and other state agencies to provide resources in support of local governments responding to the alarming influx of migrants landing in the Florida Keys, and providing additional support toward efforts to prevent further migrant landings on Florida’s shores.

“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,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “That is why I am activating the National Guard and directing state resources to help alleviate the strain on local resources. When Biden continues to ignore his legal responsibilities, we will step in to support our communities.”

It is particularly burdensome for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, which has 194 deputies, to dedicate the necessary resources to manage the movement of hundreds of migrants while also ensuring adequate public safety. The Biden Administration’s response has been inept, failing to provide the resources necessary to respond to the current mass migration event. Instead, the burden falls on local law enforcement, which puts Floridians at risk.

The State of Florida will deploy air assets, including airplanes and helicopters from the Florida National Guard, and will bolster Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission marine patrol to support water interdictions and ensure the safety of migrants attempting to reach Florida through the Florida Straits.

Florida has a long history of helping refugees, including Cubans and others fleeing communist regimes, find support after they arrive in the United States; however, this has always involved support from the Federal Government and a large, coordinated effort amongst state, federal, and local governments.

On January 1, 2023, approximately 300 illegal aliens unlawfully entered Dry Tortugas National Park, located about 70 miles west of Key West, with an additional 45 illegal aliens entering Key West. This massive influx of illegal immigrants caused the park to close to ensure the safety of visitors and staff and to provide the space necessary to attend to the illegal immigrants. Since August 2022, federal, state, and local law enforcement have encountered more than 8,000 migrants in waters off the coast of Florida.

  • Damn fine governor!

    Wonder if Florida has any submarines? That would be a fantastic solution.

    What I find amazing is that the recent intrusion of illegal immigrants into the Dry Tortugas caused the closing and evacuation of legal US residents to vacate so authorities could provide for the immigrants. What’s wrong with that picture?

    You liberals, you’re so naive.

      • They are called the “Silent Service” for a reason.
        Unfortunately there are all kinds of accidents that occur at sea.
        There is a legal means of entering this country, they should use it, don’t you think?

  • Praises to our great Governor Ron DeSantis. He has outstanding leadership to crises.
    Thank you

  • Totally disgusting as a immigrant myself with my wife we immigrated to the USA 48 years ago using the correct procedure and following all the rules and then we both became US citizen’s, why is The Democrats allowed to does this I am sure there are a lot of well educated people doing the correct procedure as we did to move to the USA.

  • The US Coast Guard has repatriated thousands of immigrants in the past year.

  • Great job Governor 🤗 If we only had a President like you, Our country would be great again!!! Thanks for all you do to protect us🥰

  • Deposit them in the nearest federal facility, mmm, the courthouse in Miami? …..

  • Send them BACK!!! I don’t want to pay for them! I don’t want to support them!

  • Send them BACK! I don’t want to support them! We have enough people on welfare!

  • Nothing has changed since trump has left office.. WTF is this governor delusional.

  • More political posturing to appease the most base instincts of the maga right. This will have absolutely no net effect. None. Just keeps his highness’s name in the news.

    • Call it what you want but it’s way more than “Idunno” Joe has done in 2 years.
      Hell, he just remembered we had a southern border.

  • Nunya,
    What legal process do you see as a solution to stem illegal immigration into the US? I do believe that the legal process is already in place ..
    Do you have a solution in mind that can be implemented while following the laws of the United States?

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