The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office has reported that nearly all suspects arrested for looting after hurricanes Helene and Milton were illegal migrants, sparking concerns over crime and community safety in the storm’s aftermath. According to Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, of the 45 people arrested for offenses like armed robbery, burglary, and vandalism, 41 were found to be living illegally in the U.S.
“A lot of these people were in the area to take others’ properties,” Gualtieri stated, noting that law enforcement’s proactive response prevented additional crimes. Officers questioned a total of 196 individuals on suspicion of looting and later released 163 of them, who were also identified as illegal migrants, raising further questions about the impact of immigration on public safety during crises.
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 left extensive destruction, claiming at least 230 lives from Hurricane Helene and another 32 from Hurricane Milton, with billions in property damage across multiple states. In response, President Donald J. Trump opened his Trump National Doral Miami resort to accommodate around 275 linemen working to restore power in Florida. The Biden-Harris administration’s response, particularly through FEMA, has been widely criticized, with Elon Musk and Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) alleging that FEMA delayed aid distribution in some areas, including the deployment of Musk’s Starlink Internet service.
FEMA confirmed it temporarily paused aid distribution in North Carolina due to safety concerns for federal workers, although this explanation has been met with skepticism by some local officials. Law enforcement’s response to the looting has highlighted the need for tighter immigration enforcement, especially as communities recover from disaster.
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 works to rebuild, law enforcement and local leaders are emphasizing the importance of maintaining security during vulnerable times. Officials argue that stricter immigration policies would help protect communities from similar incidents in the future, making recovery efforts safer and more efficient.
