ORLANDO, Fla. – Leaders with Central Florida’s Haitian community hosted a town hall to address concerns for people born both on and off the island.
“(We need) real tangible solutions to the crisis in Haiti,” one panelist said.
Many in the group said the gang violence is only a symptom that gets the world’s attention, when the real issue is the world’s policy toward Haiti.
“I haven’t been able to go to Haiti since June 2021. The last update I recorded earlier today before I got here (was) that one of the commissioners was set on fire,” another panelist said.
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A few hours prior in Winter Haven, Gov. Ron Desantis expressed sympathy for what’s happening in Haiti, but he said that he must protect Florida’s coast from a potential wave of migrants.
In January 2023, DeSantis issued an emergency executive order after 125 Haiti migrants arrived in Key Largo on boats.
This week, DeSantis ordered 272 state personnel to the Keys.
“We want to be proactive. We are proactive. We could wait until we get overwhelmed and then do something, or we can say that we are seeing the possibilities,” DeSantis said.
The governor also said there was another migrant boat recently stopped near Ponce Inlet.
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