DeSantis will attempt to deliver tennis star Djokovic to Miami Open by way of boat to skirt Biden’s vaccine rule

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is asking President Biden to permit tennis star Novak Djokovic into the U.S. to take part within the Miami Open, and has requested permission to deliver him to Florida by way of boat to avoid the COVID vaccine mandate for foreigners.

Mr. DeSantis, a Republican weighing a 2024 presidential run, slammed Mr. Biden for persevering with to implement COVID-19 vaccination necessities for foreigners in search of to enter the U.S. The rule has stored the unvaccinated Mr. Djokovic, a Serbian and number-one ranked tennis participant on the earth, from collaborating in any U.S. tennis tournaments.

Mr. Djokovic has been denied entry to the Miami Open, which is scheduled for March 19 by April 2 at Indian Wells.

In the letter, Mr. DeSantis stated 1000’s of unvaccinated unlawful immigrants have been allowed into the U.S. by the southern border and known as the ban on the top-ranked Mr. Djokovic, “unfair, unscientific and unacceptable.”

He requested Mr. Biden to verify by March 10 that Mr. Djokovic can enter the nation “via boat.”

Sens. Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, each Florida Republicans, wrote to Biden final week asking him to grant a waiver to permit Mr. Djokovic to compete.

In a letter despatched to Mr. Biden Tuesday, Mr. DeSantis recommended he would do one higher and assist Mr. Djokovic to enter Florida by boat. An entrance by way of water would circumvent a requirement carried out by Mr. Biden in 2021 requiring nonimmigrant, non-U.S. residents to be “fully vaccinated” in opposition to COVID earlier than coming into the U.S. by air.

A later Homeland Security directive, issued in 2022, prolonged the vaccine requirement to these coming into the U.S. by way of ports of entry from Mexico and Canada. The rule has not utilized to unlawful immigrants who’ve poured into the U.S. by way of Mexico.  

Asked by The Washington Times whether or not the governor would assist Mr. Djokovic journey by boat to Florida to take part within the match, a DeSantis spokesman stated,  “We hope to be able to assist Mr. Djokovic in his participation in the Miami Open in any way possible.”

Last week, the U.S. Open Tennis sided with Mr. Djokovic, writing on Twitter, “Novak Djokovic is one the greatest champions our sport has ever seen. The USTA and US Open are hopeful that Novak is successful in his petition to enter the country, and that the fans will be able to see him back in action at Indian Wells and Miami.”

Mr. Biden declared an finish to the pandemic final September in an interview on “60 Minutes.”

“We still have a problem with COVID,” he stated. “We’re still doing a lot of work on it. But the pandemic is over.”

For extra info, go to The Washington Times COVID-19 useful resource web page.