Following hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office revealed that nearly all suspects arrested for looting in the aftermath were illegal migrants. Of the 45 individuals arrested for offenses like armed robbery and burglary, 41 were identified as unlawfully present in Florida, according to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
Gualtieri praised the police’s efforts, stating, “A lot of these people were in the area to take others’ properties, and our efforts prevented additional crimes from occurring.” Police questioned 196 individuals on suspicion of looting, ultimately releasing 163, who were also confirmed to be illegal migrants.
The Pinellas County Sheriff says that 41 out of 45 looting, robbery and burglary suspects who were arrested for allegedly targeting vulnerable Floridians after Hurricane Helene and Milton are foreign national migrants. pic.twitter.com/jtyqg7Di9P
— Andy Ngo 🏳️🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) October 27, 2024
The hurricanes’ devastation claimed at least 230 lives from Hurricane Helene and an additional 32 from Hurricane Milton, causing billions in damages. Amid the response, President Donald J. Trump opened his Trump National Doral Miami resort to house linemen tasked with power restoration. Meanwhile, FEMA under the Biden-Harris administration faced criticism, with Elon Musk and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) alleging that FEMA hindered Musk’s Starlink Internet service distribution after Hurricane Helene. FEMA admitted to temporarily suspending aid in North Carolina due to safety concerns.
Really Kamala? Florida: 41 out of 45 looting and burglary suspects post-hurricane were migrants… – Revolver Newshttps://t.co/kAWtvB6ds4
— sdylan (@sdyll1) October 30, 2024
As Florida recovers, law enforcement officials stress the importance of protecting vulnerable communities from criminal exploitation. With these recent arrests, the role of illegal migration in post-disaster crime is under scrutiny, fueling discussions on strengthening immigration enforcement to prevent further challenges in times of crisis.
