Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced on Friday that he is sending more police and soldiers to Texas to help the Lone Star State in its fight against the illegal immigration crisis unfolding at record proportions at President Joe Biden’s southern border with Mexico.
The governor told reporters at a press conference on Friday that he is immediately deploying 76 Florida Highway Patrol officers and 50 National Guardsmen to the southern border. The 126 Florida state personnel top off hundreds more troops DeSantis has sent to help with the border in recent years.
BREAKING: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced the deployment of 50 Florida National Guard troops and 76 troops from the Florida Highway Patrol to the southern border to assist Texas's border security efforts.
— Leading Report (@LeadingReport) February 24, 2024
“This is part of a years-long effort for us to help do what the federal government has refused to do, which is to actually defend this country’s borders,” DeSantis said at the press conference. “You’ve seen numbers that have been astronomical over these last three years. I know that what’s been happening in Texas has been effective.”
“You’ve seen the numbers go down, and that’s really because you have Texas putting forth huge effort, and then all these other states coming by to help,” DeSantis said. “So we want to be a part of that. We think this is an American issue, partially just because we should have a secure country. And then partially the effects of this border invasion go to all 50 states.”
NEW: FL Governor Ron DeSantis is sending 76 Florida Highway Patrol Troopers and 50 National Guardsmen to the U.S. – Mexico border in Texas as he says the federal government is failing to control the border crisis.
Previously vowed up to 1K troops. https://t.co/hnXCUgd0SS pic.twitter.com/5pwVlgn3Ud
— Greg Angel (@NewsGuyGreg) February 23, 2024
The Florida governor pointed out the danger of allowing too many Chinese nationals and military-aged males from Middle Eastern and North African countries to hop over the southern border and gain undocumented entry to the United States.
“I think the chances are that there’s some bad intentions there for some of these people,” DeSantis warned. “And it’s a huge, huge problem, especially when you look at all the problem countries in this world have had people come through the southern border.”
The former Republican candidate for president — who endorsed former President Donald Trump after withdrawing from the GOP primary — slammed Biden for funding NGOs that help migrants come here illegally.
“I definitely don’t think the federal government should take your tax dollars and fund that because they’re basically subsidizing the border invasion because folks know they’re coming and they’re going to be able to have this landing spot with these groups,” he said.
