Border Czar Tom Homan and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Rodney Scott stood at Port Miami Thursday to tout a dramatic shift in federal resources toward Florida’s coastline, pointing to more than 17,000 pounds of narcotics seized by Miami CBP agents this fiscal year — more than double the roughly 7,000 pounds seized in the earlier comparison period officials cited. The visit came as agencies touted steep declines in maritime crossings paired with a buildup of boats, aircraft and personnel along the state’s waters.
According to wflaorlando.iheart.com, officials said apprehensions of people trying to enter Florida by sea have dropped 94% even as seizures climbed. Per the report, the task force framed the shift as a direct consequence of tighter control elsewhere: once the southern border was locked down, officials said, Florida’s maritime border became a target for traffickers and smugglers looking for new routes. As part of Thursday’s announcement, officials also promised additional Coast Guard assets and 7,000 new ICE agents in 2027.
The Port Miami event doubled as a demonstration of how CBP has reallocated manpower, according to WSVN, which reported that the agency has prioritized Florida interdictions of drug and gun traffickers and increased the aircraft, boats and Border Patrol agents patrolling the state’s waters. The station reported that drug traffickers and cartels have caused dangerous maritime encounters in Florida waters that sometimes end in gunfire, and that cartels have grown more advanced with technology and drones. Commissioner Scott attributed the rising seizure numbers to greater capacity, more flight and float hours, and enhanced cooperation and coordination among agencies, the station reported.
A Pipeline Freed Up From the Southwest Border
Scott connected the Florida buildup to earlier gains on the southwest border, telling WSVN that securing that border decreased crossings and freed up resources for Florida waters and other areas. He pointed to a 12-mile stretch of the San Diego sector where testing border-security concepts freed up 150 agents every 24 hours, according to the station’s report. Homan, for his part, said he had visited Miami several times over the past few months and had asked officials what resources they needed, per the same account…