Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warns Haitians could be shipped off to Martha's Vineyard. ((Photo by SERGIO FLORES/AFP via Getty Images))
"The problem when you get to a situation like Florida is if they have people in our state and we wanted to fly them, say, back to Haiti, you have to get clearance to be able to do that. If you wanted to fly somebody to a South American country, wherever they’re from, it becomes a little bit more difficult because the federal government’s going to tell the host countries not to accept our planes," DeSantis said.
"It’s a little bit different for a maritime state like us," he continued. "That’s why we’ve really got to get them before they reach the shores, and that’s why we’re working so hard to do that."
The Caribbean nation has seen a significant escalation in violence after gangs overran the capital of Port-au-Prince, resulting in the resignation of embattled Prime Minister Ariel Henry. They burned police stations and ransacked the main airport, plunging the country into anarchy. Gangs have also raided some of the largest prisons, releasing thousands of inmates.
Aid groups say nearly 1.4 million people in the nation are on the verge of famine and more than 4 million need help accessing food.
DHS WARNS HAITIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ARRIVING BY BOAT FACE ‘IMMEDIATE REPATRIATION’
The "Welcome to Florida" sign (Jim Steinfeldt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
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On Friday, DeSantis said that state law enforcement had intercepted a vessel coming to the Florida coast carrying dozens of Haitian migrants, as well as firearms, drugs and night vision gear.
"I’ve got to defend my state," DeSantis said. "I’ve got enough issues just dealing with people fleeing from blue states moving to Florida."
Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed to this report.
Jamie Joseph is a writer who covers politics. She leads Fox News Digital coverage of the Senate.
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