Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday followed through on his promise to send the state’s law enforcement officers to help Texas secure the southern border and end the crisis that President Joe Biden created.
“When the Governors of Texas and Arizona reached out for help, Florida answered the call,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis sent more than 50 agents belonging to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Highway Patrol, and Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, according to a press release.
Florida sent equipment to Texas, too.
“We are witnessing a catastrophe at the southern border under the Biden Administration,” DeSantis said. “In recent months, we have seen people from the terrorist watch list, known sex offenders and a flood of fentanyl cross over the border. This is a national security crisis, and we must get it under control.”
Florida’s county sheriffs have taken responsibility for shortfalls in state policing that may occur as a result of the deployment to Texas.
More than 20 sheriffs’ departments said they will help the state.
The deployed agents will work in Texas for 16 days before a new rotation relieves them.
DeSantis announced last week that Florida would help Arizona and Texas secure the southern border after the two border states pleaded for help.
Arizona and Texas argued that their officers and resources stem illegal immigrants, drug traffickers, and sex traffickers from flooding into the nation, thus benefiting non-border states.
Yet, non-border states do not contribute to the cost, both in people and money, of border protection.
DeSantis agreed, arguing that the benefits obtained by all should be paid by all.
“I thank our FDLE agents and analysts who volunteered for this mission, being away from their families during the July 4th holiday,” said Florida Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen.
“Their work benefits our citizens by helping secure the border from the violent illegal aliens and human traffickers who illegally get into our country and find their way into Florida, like the drug trafficker who shot our agent earlier this month,” he said.
