The Department of Defense has been warned of a potential “maritime mass migration” from Haiti to South Florida due to the deteriorating conditions in the Caribbean nation.
In her recent testimony, Rebecca Zimmerman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs, addressed these concerns at a House Armed Services Committee hearing. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) posed crucial questions about the fine line between Haiti and a failed state, highlighting the disastrous implications on Florida from a possible surge of Haitian migrants due to gang-related violence and governmental instability in Haiti.
“At the moment, we have not yet seen large numbers, what we would characterize as maritime mass migration,” Zimmerman said. “We are alert to that possibility. I think you’re right that the driving conditions in Haiti could very well press more people. We recently approved some additional assistance we could provide to the Coast Guard.”
Zimmerman’s promise of “some additional assistance” to the Coast Guard is unlikely to assuage potential Haitian mass migration concerns.
“Haiti is facing a crisis of Biblical Proportions,” Rep. Maria Salazar (R-Fla.), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, said. “With gangs overrunning the country, we need to contain this crisis before it overflows to the rest of the Western Hemisphere. Republicans are asking for a clear plan and accountability for the use of U.S resources. We want to see the crisis in Haiti come to an end immediately but need to do it responsibly.”
show less
