(The Center Square) – U.S. Coast Guard crews continue to interdict and repatriate foreign nationals attempting to illegally enter the U.S. off the coast of Florida despite recent claims to the contrary. After a larger-than-normal surge of illegal activity began around New Year’s Eve 2022 and New Year’s Day 2023, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a state of emergency and disaster declaration in January 2023 and deployed the National Guard and other state resources to respond. The number of illegal entries by sea significantly dropped, law enforcement officials told The Center Square. Throughout last yea…