Duval Times

Following recent reports from South Florida that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has refused to pursue federal criminal charges against individuals involved in a human trafficking operation, Senator Rick Scott led his colleagues in a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, demanding answers. The operation reportedly involved Ecuadorian and Chinese nationals smuggled into the Florida Keys. According to these reports, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida declined to file federal criminal charges against the traffickers detained in this case.

Joining Senator Scott on the letter are Senator Marco Rubio and Representatives Carlos Giménez, María Elvira Salazar, and Mario Díaz-Balart.

Senator Scott hosted a press conference with fellow Republican senators addressing what they described as dangerous consequences of the Biden-Harris administration’s policies on crime and border security. "The National Crime Victimization Survey," released by the DOJ last Thursday, shows violent crime has increased from 5.6 incidents per 1,000 people in 2020 to 8.7 incidents per 1,000 people in 2023.

The full letter reads:

Dear Attorney General Garland and Secretary Mayorkas:

We are deeply disturbed by recent reports from South Florida that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has refused to pursue federal criminal charges against individuals engaged in a human trafficking operation involving Ecuadorian and Chinese nationals smuggled into the Florida Keys. We write to demand an explanation for this most recent failure to enforce the federal laws intended to keep our country safe and secure.

As you are certainly aware by now, on August 18, 2024, U.S. Border Patrol agents initially detained five individuals caught smuggling Chinese and Ecuadorian nationals aboard a small vessel that landed in Key Largo, Florida.[1] However, despite catching these traffickers and reportedly obtaining clear confessions of their crimes, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida declined to file federal charges against the smugglers, which would have allowed them to walk free without any consequence for their criminal operation. Fortunately, Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay and 16th Judicial Circuit State Attorney Dennis Ward took quick action to detain and prosecute these criminals for violations of state law, avoiding the inexcusable lack of law enforcement resulting from DOJ’s failure to fulfill its core responsibilities.

Make no mistake; your refusal to take action securing our national border and federally prosecuting these human traffickers serves only to encourage future violations of federal immigration law and perpetuate modern-day slavery fueled by human trafficking operations.

Secretary Mayorkas: it is your responsibility to secure our national borders. However time again we have seen state local law enforcement forced expend limited resources step up when Biden-Harris administration your agency fails refuses prevent prosecute border incursions human smuggling operations like witnessed Key Largo seems Border Czar Kamala Harris need look further “root causes” illegal immigration crisis plagues country than incompetent members own administration

Attorney General Garland: it is DOJ’s responsibility prosecute violations immigration laws necessary preserve national order security However time again shown greater interest wasting taxpayer resources target pursue specious cases perceived political opponents Biden-Harris administration Worse yet agency pursued lawsuits against border states prevent us taking steps secure borders repeated incursions foreign nationals across globe

We respectfully request you provide a detailed explanation as why U.S Attorney’s Office Southern District Florida declined file federal criminal charges against human traffickers detained case clear violations federal law Please provide detailed response within two weeks date letter

Sincerely,

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