Tallahassee.- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he will send hundreds of law enforcement officers, along with planes, drones and ships, to Texas, deploying state resources on an issue likely to become a centerpiece of his long-awaited presidential bid.
It is the second time in two years that Florida has signed an agreement with Texas to provide assistance on the US-Mexico border. But in 2021, Florida’s attendance was much more modest, at 50 officers. This time, DeSantis promises to send 1,301 agents.
The move comes at the request of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, who on Tuesday “urged the nation’s governors” to help with border security in his state, according to a statement from his office.
DeSantis responded quickly, so staff and equipment can start heading to Texas this Wednesday. The deployment comes amid continued criticism by DeSantis of President Biden and federal immigration policies.
“Given the crisis at the border, Florida decided to send in the cavalry — law enforcement agencies and their counterparts have been in contact with Texas officials for over a week,” DeSantis director of communications Taryn Fenske said. , it’s a statement. “Governor DeSantis will not let red tape get in the way of border security.”
According to the assignments listed in DeSantis’ office description, the Del Rio and Rio Grande Valley sectors of Texas will each see the deployment of 50 Florida Highway Patrol officers, 10 state rangers and 10 investigators. criminals. The deployments will last 31 days.
Last week, DeSantis signed into law sweeping immigration legislation that gives him more money to restart a controversial immigrant resettlement program. The new law limits social services to immigrants who do not have permanent legal status and requires hospitals that accept Medicaid to ask patients for their citizenship status on intake forms.
The law also expands the required use of E-Verify, a federal system that determines whether people can legally work in the United States, to cover all businesses with more than 25 employees. Industries that rely on immigrant workers, including agriculture and tourism, will lose workers as a result.
Border crossings have decreased by 50 percent since Title 42 policies limiting entry into the country ended, President Biden began applying new restrictions last week, but it is unclear if the decline in illegal entries will continue.
DeSantis has used the situation at the border to repeatedly punish Biden as he increases his appearances in states with early presidential primaries. Last year, he brought several dozen Venezuelans from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, a move that was strongly condemned by human rights advocates.
“Communities across the country are feeling the impacts of the Biden border crisis, and the abdication of duty by the federal government undermines our country’s sovereignty and the rule of law,” DeSantis said in a statement released by his office Tuesday.
