Pasco County Officials Release Statement About Haitian Immigrants Stored in Warehouse Rumor

Screenshot from Pasco County Sheriff's Office Facebook postPhoto byPasco County Sheriff's Office

In response to growing concerns and rumors circulating in the community, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office has issued a statement clarifying misinformation regarding a shelter at the intersection of Sunlake and SR 54.

The Sheriff’s Office reported receiving numerous inquiries prompted by a recent inaccurate tweet. Officials emphasized that the claims made in the tweet are completely unfounded and have regrettably fueled baseless rumors in the area.

"To be clear, the information included in this tweet is entirely inaccurate and is not true but has sadly led to rumors that we must address," the department wrote on Facebook, in part.

“This location is a special needs shelter ordered by the Florida Department of Emergency Management,” stated the Sheriff’s Office, furthering that its purpose is to alleviate impacts on area schools and facilitate their return to normal operations.

Many local schools in Pasco County have been designated as temporary shelters, and the establishment of additional shelters is necessary to allow these institutions to resume regular activities.

Officials assured the community that there is currently no threat, and they have directly communicated with representatives from the Florida Department of Emergency Management to reconfirm the shelter's purpose. This clarification was reiterated during a site visit by deputies and supervisors.

Residents are encouraged to rely on official sources for information and to refrain from spreading unverified reports that can cause unnecessary panic.