Miami border officials were told to get ready for a wave of Haitian migrants after Prime Minister Henry’s resignation, the government’s collapse, the resumption of violence, and the expanding power of armed organizations throughout the nation.
Given the circumstances in Haiti, an internal agency report states that it is doubtful that Haitians who take to the sea and reach Florida illegally will be sent back to their home country.
Additionally, the memo issues a warning that a single boat carrying a large number of migrants may exceed the agency’s capacity in the area, severely impairing our ability to handle the remaining traffic.
The document says, “With the collapse of the Haitian government, the repatriation of Haitians may not take place in the foreseeable future.” If this is the case, the Coast Guard might just assist the Haitian boat people to land instead of stopping the vessel carrying them. If so, most situations will probably be handled by us.
Officials from the Border Patrol are concerned that should Haitian migrants make it to Florida, it will be challenging to keep the groups under control, move them quickly for processing, and identify phony families.
Restricting arrivals to a certain location will be the most challenging thing to do. The email clarifies, “We will want to have doctors (local EMS) on site to check on those who need them.”