Resolution 048-2023 RESOLUTION 048 -2023
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA,
CALLING ON THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO
PROVIDE THE NECESSARY FEDERAL RESOURCES TO
ADDRESS THE INFLUX OF MIGRANT ARRIVALS IN THE
FLORIDA KEYS IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE MONROE
COUNTY SHERIFF AND OTHER STATE AND LOCAL
FIRST RESPONDERS TO FOCUS ON THEIR PRIMARY
RESPONSIBILITY OF PROTECTING THE HEALTH,
SAFETY AND WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF AND
VISITORS TO THE FLORIDA KEYS.
Whereas, Monroe County, Florida is the southernmost county in the State of Florida and
the continental United States and includes the Florida Keys; and
Whereas, the Florida Keys recently have been inundated with migrant landing on our
shores from Cuba, Haiti, and other countries; and
Whereas,the Florida Keys are currently experiencing dozens of migrant landings per week
including one day where there were ten landings alone; and
Whereas, a recent landing of over 300 migrants forced the U.S. Department of Interior to
close Dry Tortugas National Park to visitors due to the large number of migrants overwhelming
that facility; and
Whereas, approximately 385 migrants landed in various locations elsewhere in the Florida
Keys between December 30, 2022 and January 2, 2023; and
Whereas, the migrant landings result in derelict vessels, many of which leak fuel, oil, and
other pollutants, littering the shorelines and nearshore waters of the Florida Keys including those
of the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary; and
Whereas,the Monroe County Sheriff's Office,the Key West Police Department, and other
local and state law enforcement agencies are often the first governmental authorities to respond to
these landings; and
Whereas, the fire departments of Monroe County, Key West, Marathon, Islamorada, Key
Largo, and Ocean Reef are the first agencies to provide medical care to the migrants, many of
whom are in distressed states due to the challenging conditions of their voyages; and
Whereas, the U.S. Constitution' and Federal law' vests the Federal government with
exclusive responsibility over immigration and border control, preempting3 state and local
governments from regulating in this field; and
Art. 1, § 8, cl. 4, United States Constitution.
2 See, e.g., 8 U.S.C.A. §§ 1304, 1306; and 18 U.S.C.A. § 3561.
3 See, Arizona v. U.S., 567 U.S. 387, 132 S.Ct. 2492, 183 L.Ed.2d 351 (2012).
Whereas, the recent influx of migrants has required local first responders to divert locally
funded resources away from their primary responsibility of protecting the health, safety, and
welfare of local residents and visitors to the Florida Keys to address the immediate needs of the
migrants while waiting hours, sometimes days,for the Federal government to respond to the scene
of the migrant landing; and
Whereas, it is manifestly unfair for local taxpayers of the Florida Keys to step in and
subsidize what the Constitution, Congress, and the Supreme Court declare to be a Federal
responsibility.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF MONROE COUNTY FLORIDA:
1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated as findings of fact of the Board;
2. The Commission urges the President and the Florida Congressional delegation to take
action to ensure that the Federal government lives up to its Constitutional and statutory
responsibility to respond immediately to migrant landings, to immediately provide
appropriate care for the migrants, to immediately move the migrants to federal processing
centers,to clean up the environmental harm associated with the derelict vessels left behind
by arriving migrants, and to relieve local and state taxpayers from having to step in for the
Federal government's failure to fulfill this responsibility;
3. The Clerk is directed to send this resolution to:
President Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC 20500
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio
284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
U.S. Senator Rick Scott
502 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
U.S. Representative Carlos Gimenez
448 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
4. This resolution shall take effect upon adoption.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of the Board held on the 18th day of January, 2023.
Mayor Craig Cates Yes
Mayor Pro Tem Holly Merrill Raschein Yes
Commissioner Michelle Lincoln Yes
Commissioner James Scholl Yes
Commissioner David Rice Yes
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0.ES I': KEVIN MADOK, CLERK APPROVED AS TO FORM&LEGAL SUFFICIENCY
Robert B Yi Digitally signed by Robert B.Shillinger
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S h i a rl g e r Date:2023.nger bob@monroecounty-fl.gov,c=US
By t r Date:2023.02.03 10:2122-05'00'
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AS DEPUTY CLERK Robert B. Shillinger,Monroe County Attorney
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February 3, 2023
President Joe Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington DC 20500
Dear President Biden,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 048-2023 calling on the Federal
Government to provide necessary federal resources to address the influx of migrant arrivals in
the Florida Keys in order to allow the Monroe County Sheriff and other state and local first
responders to focus on their primary responsibility of protecting the health, safety and welfare of
the residents of and visitors to the Florida Keys.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on January 18, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
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February 3, 2023
Honorable Representative Carlos Gimenez
448 Cannon House Office Building
United States House of Representatives
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Representative Gimenez,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 048-2023 calling on the Federal
Government to provide necessary federal resources to address the influx of migrant arrivals in
the Florida Keys in order to allow the Monroe County Sheriff and other state and local first
responders to focus on their primary responsibility of protecting the health, safety and welfare of
the residents of and visitors to the Florida Keys.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on January 18, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 3, 2023
Honorable Senator Marco Rubio
284 Russell Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Senator Rubio,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 048-2023 calling on the Federal
Government to provide necessary federal resources to address the influx of migrant arrivals in
the Florida Keys in order to allow the Monroe County Sheriff and other state and local first
responders to focus on their primary responsibility of protecting the health, safety and welfare of
the residents of and visitors to the Florida Keys.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on January 18, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070
GVS COURTq°
o: A Kevin Madok, CPA
-
�o ........ � Clerk of the Circuit Court& Comptroller Monroe County, Florida
�z cooN
February 3, 2023
Honorable Senator Rick Scott
502 Hart Senate Office Building
United States Senate
Washington DC 20510
Honorable Senator Scott,
Attached is a certified copy of Resolution No. 048-2023 calling on the Federal
Government to provide necessary federal resources to address the influx of migrant arrivals in
the Florida Keys in order to allow the Monroe County Sheriff and other state and local first
responders to focus on their primary responsibility of protecting the health, safety and welfare of
the residents of and visitors to the Florida Keys.
This Resolution was adopted by the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners at
a regular meeting, held in formal session, on January 18, 2023. Should you have any questions,
please feel free to contact me at(305) 292-3550.
Respectfully Submitted,
Kevin Madok, CPA, Clerk of the
Circuit Court and ex-officio to the
Monroe County Board of County
Commissioners
By: Liz Yongue, Deputy Clerk
cc: File
KEY WEST MARATHON PLANTATION KEY
500 Whitehead Street 3117 Overseas Highway 88770 Overseas Highway
Key West, Florida 33040 Marathon, Florida 33050 Plantation Key, Florida 33070