Texas is ground zero for the crush of illegal immigrants that have caused a crisis along the southern border with Mexico. Because both federal and state law enforcement in Texas is so strained thin, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has decided to send border aid to the Lone Star state by deploying a dozen police and sheriffs units to Texas to help control the border.
Gov. DeSantis made the announcement that he was sending 12 Florida-based law enforcement agencies to Texas and Arizona to help depleted and understaffed border security agencies secure the southern border.
“America’s border security crisis impacts every state and every American,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The Biden Administration ended policies implemented by President Trump that were curbing illegal immigration, securing our border, and keeping Americans safe. Governors Abbott and Ducey recently sent out a call for help to every state in the nation, needing additional law enforcement manpower and other resources to aid with border security. I’m proud to announce today that the state of Florida is answering the call. Florida has your back.”
DeSantis’ answering the call of Governor’s Greg Abbott (R-TX) and Doug Ducey (R-AZ) to “immediate assistance” in order to curb the surge of illegal immigrants and the influx of criminal elements, received a warm welcome from members of the Texas Congressional delegation, many of whom have witnessed the border crisis first hand.
Texas Politics caught up with several members of the Texas Congressional delegation and informed them about DeSantis's move to send assistance to their state.
“God bless Governor Ron DeSantis for understanding the sovereign right and power of the States and helping his friend Governor Abbott and his friends in Texas to do the job that the federal government failed to do,” said Rep. Jodey Arrington.
“I appreciate Florida’s assistance. I wish the federal government will step up to the plate, it’s their responsibility, not the States,” said Rep. Mike McCaul. “We're actually, our governor’s talking about building the rest of the wall, providing the reinforcements, but it comes at state expensive that's really a federal responsibility and the federal government should pay for it.”
I appreciate Florida’s assistance. I wish the federal government will step up to the plate, it’s their responsibility, not the States. We're actually, our governor’s talking about building the rest of the wall, providing the reinforcements, but it comes in state expensive that's really a federal responsibility and the federal government should pay for it.
Rep. Ronny Jackson said that he thought “it’s a great idea” and that it couldn’t have come at a better time to help the depleted and overworked Texans.
“Our law enforcement is stretched so thin right now and all of our Department of Public Safety our DPS officers that are down there on the border, they're not actually doing their job well,” said Rep. Jackson
"Texas has had to step into the breach to secure our communities from what is clearly an onslaught, an invasion if you will from cartels. Governor DeSantis should be applauded for stepping up to help us deal with the fact that we got this assault on our communities in Texas," said Rep. Chip Roy," adding, "the president and the vice president are nowhere to be found, they couldn't even find the border on the map, and the governor of Florida understands the dynamic and he's helping us . God bless him for it."
Rep. Pete Sessions (pictured) called the influx of illegal immigrants “an invasion of Arizona and Texas and an invasion that is taking place in the United States of America.
“They (Biden Administration) have not done the things that would be necessary to protect this country against criminal gangs, drug cartels, against drugs coming into this country. I, on behalf of the 17th district of Texas, am delighted to see that Governor DeSantis from Florida will be helping Texas and Arizona,” added Rep. Sessions.
"I appreciate Florida’s assistance. I wish the federal government would step up to the plate, it’s their responsibility, not the states," said Rep. Michael McCaul.
But while Texas Republicans welcomed the help, Democrat Rep. Marc Veasey called DeSantis’ gesture as “terrible” and “nuts.”
“I think that’s a terrible use of Florida resources in Texas and completely unnecessary. I think that’s nuts,” said Rep. Veasey (D)
Here is the list of law enforcement agencies that will be deployed:
- The Florida Highway Patrol
- The Florida Department of Law Enforcement
- The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
- Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
- Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
- Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
- Holmes County Sheriff’s Office
- Lee County Sheriff’s Office
- Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
- Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
- Walton County Sheriff’s Office
