Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is sending members of various law enforcement agencies throughout the state to Texas and Arizona to help combat the crisis at the Southern border.
“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 said of his decision.
Last week, the two border-state governors wrote an open letter to other states asking for additional assistance in attempting to curb the dramatic increase in border crossings. “Texas and Arizona have stepped up to secure the border in the federal government’s absence, and now the Emergency Management Assistance Compact gives your State a chance to stand strong with us,” the letter pleaded.
Florida is the first state to respond to the request. In explaining his reasoning, DeSantis argued, “America’s border security crisis impacts every state and every American. The Biden Administration ended policies implemented by President Trump that were curbing illegal immigration, securing our border, and keeping Americans safe.”
The border crisis has resulted in overcrowded processing facilities that are holding thousands of migrants. Further, human and illegal drug trafficking has skyrocketed across the region. The letter from Ducey and Abbott highlights that Arizona’s Border Strike Force has intercepted 64,410,064 deadly doses of fentanyl.
Governor Abbott has announced his plan for Texas to build its own barrier along the Southern border, due to lack of action from the Biden administration.
Earlier this year, President Biden appointed Vice President Kamala Harris to lead the administration’s efforts at the border. However, the Vice President has yet to tour the area to examine the effects of the continued crisis.
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Cooper Moran is a reporter for the Star News Network. Follow Cooper on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
