Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently announced that he is sending members of the Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to Texas to assist with the ongoing border crisis along the border with Mexico. Under the Biden administration, illegal immigration has soared to unprecedented levels, crippling the infrastructure of border towns and sanctuary cities across the nation.
DeSantis’ pledge to aid Texas Gov. Greg Abbott follows a record-breaking 302,304 recorded encounters with illegal immigrants last month. This figure exceeded the previous record of 269,735, which was recorded in September 2023. Among these encounters, were at 19 arrests of illegal aliens who were on the terrorist watch list.
In his announcement, DeSantis affirmed that individual states should have the sovereign right to defend their border, particularly as the Biden administration has failed to take substantive action in protecting the states from the migrant crisis.
“States have every right to defend their sovereignty and we are pleased to increase our support to Texas as the Lone Star State works to stop the invasion across the border,” stated Governor Ron DeSantis. “Our reinforcements will help Texas to add additional barriers, including razor wire along the border. We don’t have a country if we don’t have a border.”
According to Major General John D. Haas, the Adjutant General of Florida, the state has consistently provided Texas with additional resources in the past, noting that Florida’s current endeavor is not a new initiative.
“This is not a new mission for us. For several years we have supported border security missions in Texas, to include both federal and state deployments,” said Haas. “Last spring the Florida National Guard was one of the first in the nation to deploy rotations of soldiers to support Operation Lone Star in Texas, and we have proudly and readily supported our own state’s efforts in similar roles here in Florida.”
Florida State Guard Director Mark Thieme expressed the utmost support for Texas amid the record-breaking illegal immigration under Biden’s watch. Thieme noted that Florida would provide the necessary resources for Texas to mitigate the ensuing crisis along the border.
“The Florida State Guard is prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with state agency partners in direct support of our brothers and sisters in Texas grappling with an unprecedented surge of illegal immigration along their border,” said Thieme. “The Florida State Guard is postured to deliver rapid emergency response, public safety operations and humanitarian assistance — wherever the need arises.”
Gov. Abbott has received support from a number of other states amid his efforts to secure the border when the Biden administration won’t. Virginia Gov. Glen Youngkin expressed his support for Texas, slamming the incompetence of Joe Biden and his weak leadership.
“Virginia stands with Texas. @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border. The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border,” Youngkin posted on X. The border crisis has proven to be a hot-button political issue, primarily divided along partisan lines. Many view Biden’s inability to secure the southern border as one of his administration’s biggest failures.
Virginia stands with Texas. @GregAbbott_TX is doing the job Joe Biden and his border czar refuse to do to secure our border.
The Biden administration has turned every state into a border state. We must stop the flow of fentanyl, save lives, and secure our southern border. https://t.co/XaPu2RqJBP
— Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) January 25, 2024
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