Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday the state is increasing security in South Florida in anticipation of increased migration from Haiti, which is faced with spiraling violence and unrest.
DeSantis announced the deployment of 39 officers from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, 23 officers from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 48 members of the Florida National Guard, 30 Florida Highway Patrol troopers, and up to 133 members of the Florida State Guard.
Also, the governor’s office said the state is adding helicopters, boards, aircraft, and drones.
The state had previously increased deployments in the Florida Keys to supplement the U.S. Coast Guard’s interdiction efforts in the two-decade-old Operation Vigilant Sentry, which is focused on illegal migration by sea from the Caribbean countries.
But what exactly is happening in Haiti to prompt this response?
The small Caribbean nation, located less than 700 miles from U.S. soil, has been facing a deepening crisis characterized by rising violence, political instability, and social unrest.
Criminal gangs, more powerful than the country’s state security forces, have launched attacks on prisons and the airport in the capital city of Port-au-Prince.
As a result, businesses have been forced to close, schools have shut down, and thousands of people have been displaced from their homes.
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Haiti’s Prime Minister Ariel Henry announced his resignation on Tuesday, March 12.
This decision came as the country faced what experts had already labeled a low-scale civil war.
Henry’s resignation was contingent upon the creation of a transitional presidential council to help navigate the country through this tumultuous period. The announcement came shortly after a meeting in Jamaica, attended by Caribbean leaders and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, to discuss a solution to Haiti’s crisis.
Recent Developments in Haiti
The recent episode of violence in Haiti began on February 29, when Prime Minister Henry flew to Kenya to seek support for a U.N.-backed deployment of a police force to combat the gangs.
However, upon his departure, prominent gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier declared that his group, G9, was joining forces with other gangs to force Henry’s resignation. Heavy gunfire erupted in the capital as chaos ensued.
In response to the escalating violence, Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, serving as the acting prime minister in Henry’s absence, declared a state of emergency on March 3. He also implemented an evening curfew to regain control of the situation.
Cherizier further warned that if Henry did not step down and if the international community continued to support him, Haiti would descend into a civil war with genocidal consequences.
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Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s Whereabouts
Prime Minister Ariel Henry has been unable to return to Haiti due to the violence that closed the country’s main international airports.
After being barred from landing in the Dominican Republic, Henry arrived in Puerto Rico in early March.
The U.S. government has urged Henry to move forward with a political process that would establish a presidential transitional council and eventually lead to elections. However, it remains uncertain who will lead Haiti during Henry’s absence.
The Root Causes of Haiti’s Crisis
Haiti’s long-standing instability can be attributed to government corruption and a series of historical events. The devastating 2010 earthquake, which claimed the lives of approximately a quarter of a million people and crippled the country’s infrastructure, exacerbated the already difficult living conditions for Haitian residents. The 2021 assassination of then-Prime Minister Jovenel Moïse further destabilized the nation.
Under Moïse’s leadership, Haiti faced mounting economic and political crises, compounded by his rule by decree without a democratic mandate. The current crisis is also rooted in the failure to hold parliamentary or general elections for years, leaving the country without elected officials.
The Rise of Gangs in Haiti
Haiti is plagued by an estimated 200 gangs, with 23 main ones operating in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. These gangs, armed with high-caliber weapons and financed through smuggling and ransom payments, have gained increasing power as the state security forces have weakened. They control a significant portion of the capital, making it challenging for law enforcement to contain their activities. The gangs’ acquisition of powerful firearms has transformed the landscape of violence in Haiti.
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The Humanitarian Crisis in Haiti
The ongoing crisis in Haiti has led to a dire humanitarian situation. In 2023 alone, nearly 4,000 people were killed and 3,000 kidnapped in gang-related violence. Sexual violence against women has also been rampant, with over 1,100 reported attacks by October.
Widespread displacement has affected more than 300,000 people, with half the population lacking access to sufficient food. Basic services such as electricity, clean water, and waste collection are unreliable, further exacerbating the suffering of the Haitian people.
The Power of Gangs and the Weakened Police Force
The absence of a democratically accountable political authority has allowed gangs to expand their influence in Port-au-Prince. Two rival coalitions, G9 led by Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier and Gpèp, have fought for control of the city.
Before the recent uprising, gangs already controlled over 80% of the capital. The police force, severely underpowered with only around 10,000 active officers, is unable to effectively combat the gangs.
The UN estimates that Haiti needs approximately 26,000 police officers, highlighting the significant shortfall. The UN Security Council’s decision to send a multinational security force to Haiti in October 2023 appeared to intensify the violence as both gangs sought to secure more territory before its arrival.
Haiti’s current crisis is a culmination of complex factors, including government corruption, historical events, and socioeconomic challenges. The resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry offers a glimmer of hope for a transition towards stability.
However, the path forward remains uncertain, as rival factions vie for power and gangs continue to exert influence. The international community’s support, including the potential deployment of an international security force, may play a crucial role in restoring peace and enabling Haiti’s long-awaited return to democracy.
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