Border Patrol agents intercepted more than 100 Haitian migrants near Key West, Florida, on Wednesday as they attempted to enter the U.S., Coast Guard officials said.
The 118 migrants were spotted on a boat in Florida waters around 4 a.m. and were medically examined, interviewed and processed, the Border Patrol said.
“I can confirm that a migrant landing recently occurred near the Key West Nature Preserve,” Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Nicholas Strasburg said Wednesday.
The migrants were intercepted as a humanitarian crisis grips the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince, where violent gangs have taken over the streets, forcing residents to starve and flee, while questions remain over demand whether the country can govern itself.
Key West, FL; At approximately 4:00 a.m., U.S. Border Patrol agents, with support from federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, responded to a migrant landing and encountered 118 Haitian migrants. Local ambulance services are on site to assess the individuals. #Haiti #Florida #KeyWest pic.twitter.com/5y9FAGamMr
— Samuel Briggs II (@USBPChiefMIP) June 26, 2024
In March, Haiti’s unpopular prime minister said Ariel Hendrik, agreed to resign after failing to hold elections several times, which he attributed to logistical problems or violent protests targeting him. Henry had also announced that the next elections would be postponed until next year.
Tensions rose further when the idea of a transitional government that would be mediated not by Haitians and other Caribbean countries but by outsiders emerged, humanitarian workers and residents say.
Haiti’s transition council eventually took hold and passed several interim prime ministers. Garry Conille currently fills that role.
However, Haiti remains marred by dangerous gangs and violence as the transition council searches for a permanent leader, a cabinet, a provisional electoral council and a subsequent vote.
“The political unrest and rampant violence in Haiti have created the conditions for a new wave of mass migration that will directly impact South Florida,” Rep. Carlos Gimenez, R-Fla., said in a statement Wednesday. “The safety of our community is at risk from another mass migration from Haiti due to rampant gang violence and the mass release of thousands of violent criminals from the country’s prisons.”
In March, Governor Ron DeSantis appointed more than 250 additional law enforcement officers and soldiers to patrol the waters and prevent a surge of Haitian migrants.
On Wednesday, an image from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office showed dozens of migrants sitting on the side of a road. Their medical conditions were not immediately known, NBC South Florida reported.
The migrants were medically cleared and transferred to Border Patrol stations, where they will be interviewed and processed, said Samuel Briggs II, acting chief patrol agent for the Border Patrol in Miami.
The Florida Immigrant Coalition on Wednesday called on state and federal officials to provide humane treatment and support to the migrants.
This week, “Haitian migrants, including children, underwent a perilous seven-day journey at sea, arriving near Key West in a sailboat in search of safety and security, highlighting the rising violence and humanitarian crisis in Haiti,” the coalition said in a statement. .
The group said Haitians are fleeing the country because of dangerous living conditions and that gang violence has led to increased crime against women and girls, worsened food insecurity and increased health problems.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
