Following the resignation of Prime Minister Henrty, the collapse of the Government, the resurgence of violence and the growing influence of armed groups over much of the country, border agents in Miami were ordered to prepare for a wave of migration from Haiti.

An internal agency memo notes that Haitians who take to the sea and enter Florida illegally are unlikely to be repatriated to their country of origin, given the situation in Haiti.

The memo also warns that one landing will cripple the station and our ability to respond to other traffic.

"With the breakdown of the government in Haiti repatriating Haitians may not be happening for the foreseeable future," the memo states. "If this is the case, then the Coast Guard may not be stopping Haitian sail freighter. If this is the case, then we will probably be handling the majority of cases."

Border Patrol officials fear that if Haitian migrants reach Florida's shores, it will be difficult to contain the groups, transport them in a timely manner for processing and identify fraudulent families.

"The hardest part is keeping the landing contained to a given area. We will want to have doctors (local EMS) on site to check on those who need them," the note specifies.

S/ HaitiLibre