More undocumented migrants heading to Florida than ever with 550% increase this year
By: Gov. Ron DeSantis (New York Post)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A federal parole program approved by the Biden Administration earlier this year has sent a soaring number of undocumented migrants pouring into Florida.
Sunshine State migrant encounters rocketed from 35,349 in fiscal year 2022 to 236,691 in fiscal year 2023 — an increase of 550%, the numbers show.
The surge stems largely from a special Department of Homeland Security program for Haitian, Venezuelan, Cuban and Nicaraguan asylum seekers.
The program allows undocumented people "outside of the United States" to request parole in the US based on "urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons," according to US Citizenship and Immigration Services.
To qualify for temporary parole, applicants must have a financial "supporter" already in the country, pass a security check and meet other criteria.
The initiative has sparked a stampede into Florida, with 56,547 migrant encounters in October and November this year alone — compared to just 13,580 over the same stretch last year and only 2,886 in 2021.
Florida has seen a sharp rise in migrant encounters in recent years. TNS
"We're seeing them in numbers I didn't think was possible," one south Florida CBP source told The Post.
October tallied 27,128 migrant encounters — up from just 1,451 in the same month in 2022.
If the trend continues at its current pace, the numbers for fiscal year 2024 will easily surpass prior records for Florida migrant encounters.
4Haiti sent the highest number of migrants to Florida in fiscal year 2023. TNS
The category does not include illegal immigrants who enter a given area undetected.
Of the 236,691 migrants who came to Florida in fiscal year 2023, the highest number hailed from chronically afflicted Haiti at 69,435.
Venezuelans were next on the list at 54,220, followed by Cubans at 51,162, Nicaraguans at 26,857, Ukrainians at 7,816 and Indians at 3,411.
The record-setting clip in October and November is being driven by those seeking refuge from financially ravaged areas of countries such in Central and South America, the figures show.
"It's the economic issues in their home countries," the border source said. "The desperation in places like Haiti and Venezuela is extreme, and so people are taking their chances."
4Migrant groups have pushed back on immigration crackdowns in the state. CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
After US Citizenship and Immigration Services was flooded with applications, the agency was compelled to revamp its review processes in May to manage demand.
The program has also spurred more Florida-bound migrants to show up at seaports and airports rather than attempt perilous maritime treks.
Citing a marked rise in migrant boat traffic, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis cracked down on the practice in January.
Nationwide, there were more than 3 million migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023, up sharply from 1,956,519 in fiscal year 2022 and 646,822 in fiscal year 2020, according to CBP data.
Texas had the most migrant encounters in fiscal year 2023 with 1,390,714, followed by California at 450,541.
There have already been 600,000 nationwide migrant encounters in October and November.
No Trump, fascist BS, shooting the messenger
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They are everywhere..............
Thats OK, the sanctuary cities/states will take them in
S/ for those that need it.
There's no need for the "/s". Especially when that is exactly what these shitholes declared.