KEY LARGO, Fla. — The six state troopers greeting a boat with 28 Cubans aboard in Key Largo on Sunday hinted at a stepped-up Florida response to a long-running influx of migrants into the southern island chain that Gov. Ron DeSantis recently declared a state emergency.
While there was no official confirmation of more Florida Highway Patrol officers in the Keys this weekend, a typical day has roughly six FHP troopers patrolling all 120 miles of road on the island chain. And local officials said they’ve been told to expect more police to respond to migrant landings, as well as National Guard helicopters to keep an eye out for approaching vessels fleeing Cuba and Haiti.
“It’s my understanding the state was going to send some extra Florida Highway Patrol officers and some assets from the National Guard just to help support more of the response to landings,” said Shannon Weiner, director of emergency management for Monroe County.
