Florida Highway Patrol apprehends 20 illegal immigrants attempting to enter Keys via boat.
The Florida Highway Patrol Detains 20 Illegal Immigrants in Key Largo
The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) successfully apprehended and held 20 illegal immigrants, including 17 Chinese nationals and three individuals from Ecuador, who arrived in Key Largo by boat on October 22.
FHP collaborated with the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to establish a perimeter and carry out the operation at Mile Marker 109 in Monroe County.
The group of Chinese nationals consisted of 11 adult males and six adult females, while the three individuals from Ecuador were all adult males.
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“While the Biden Administration has completely failed at border security, our Florida Highway Patrol troopers stand ready to protect the U.S. border, whether in the southwestern United States or here off the coast of Florida,” stated FHP Executive Director Dave Kerner. “This detention of Chinese nationals shows how an open border allows individuals from enemy nations to enter our communities.”
Details regarding the origin of the boat or its departure point are currently unavailable. The Miami Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) office for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is conducting an investigation into the case.
Monroe County, where the Florida Keys are located, has only 194 deputies to handle illegal border crossings while ensuring public safety, according to the governor’s office.
Executive Order 23-03 involves the utilization of FLNG aircraft and helicopters, as well as assistance from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) marine patrol. This aims to support water interdictions and ensure the safety of migrants attempting to reach Florida through the Florida Straits.
The governor’s office emphasized that while the country has a history of assisting refugees, such as Cubans fleeing communist regimes, it has always required significant support and collaboration from the federal government.
In January 2023, approximately 300 illegal immigrants entered Dry Tortugas National Park, located 70 miles west of Key West, while another group of 45 entered illegally in Key West. These influxes of migrants led to the closure of the park to ensure the safety of visitors and staff.
Since August 2022, more than 8,000 migrants have been encountered by federal, state, and local law enforcement in the waters off the coast of Florida.
Florida supported Texas during Operation Lone Star from June 26, 2021, to August 14, 2021. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE), FHP, and FWC reported 9,171 undocumented migrant contacts, including 7,891 adults and 1,190 children, as well as 311 criminal arrests, which included 79 human smuggling attempts, 16 stolen vehicles, and 43 narcotics busts in Del Rio and Eagle Pass.
Operation Vigilant Sentry, initiated in 2004, continues to address illegal maritime migration in the Caribbean corridor of the United States.
Florida’s departments play a crucial role in this effort. FLNG is assisting the Texas Military Department and Texas National Guard with 436 on-site personnel trained in the use of force and narcotic overdose medication.
FDLE has deployed agents and eight support team members along the Texas border, resulting in 32 arrests, including multiple gang members. These suspects face various Texas state charges, such as human smuggling, firearms offenses, smuggling of persons, and possession of controlled substances. The arrests have led to the seizure of drugs like cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana.
Furthermore, 101 FHP Troopers are stationed in Texas to secure the southern border. Two fixed-wing aircraft, five unmanned aerial vehicle drones, and two mobile command vehicles have also been deployed.
FWC has contributed 20 sworn officers and two mechanics to support federal, state, and local agencies in border control efforts.
The Coast Guard reported that 2022 was a particularly deadly year for illegal immigration, with 65 deaths recorded during attempts to cross the border into the United States. In comparison, there were 17 deaths in 2020 and five in 2021.
Captain Benjamin Golightly emphasized, “The Coast Guard and our partners are working to prevent unnecessary deaths related to migration at sea by rescuing people in unsafe vessels.
“Please do not pay smugglers and instead, encourage safe and legal migration,” he urged.
In what ways is the state of Florida supporting and providing resources to address the border crisis?
Stances.
FWC has also provided boats and air support to aid in border security operations along the Texas-Mexico border.
The ongoing influx of illegal immigrants into the United States has placed a significant strain on border security agencies, particularly in states like Florida and Texas. With the federal government’s inability to effectively address the crisis, state governments
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