Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced that his state would be sending its National Guard to the U.S.-Mexican border amid the record-high flow of migrants into the country. The decision comes amid a standoff between Texas Gov Greg Abbott (R) and the Biden administration.
The governor said that the soldiers would be deployed in several locations in Texas.
DeSantis said that the effort is “part of a yearslong effort for us to help do what the federal government has refused to do – which is to actually defend this country’s borders. You’ve seen numbers that have been astronomical over these last three years.”
The group will be joined by more than 70 police officers.
“I know that what has been happening in Texas has been effective. You have seen the numbers go down, and that is really because you have Texas putting forth a huge effort and all these other states coming by to help,” said the governor.
DeSantis called the current border situation an “American issue” and described it as an “invasion” which affected all 50 states.
Texas is using state resources to attempt to stop the flow of illegal immigrants into the state. Abbott launched Operation Lone Star utilizing the Texas National Guard, state police and other resources to guard the border.
Last month Texas released a video of its National Guard halting attempted border crossings.
Since the start of Operation Lone Star, Texas has boasted about blocked crossings, captured drugs and the discovery of human trafficking.
Thanks to the Texas National Guard for serving around the clock to secure our border in the absence of Biden. https://t.co/j50NeSUlbz
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) February 24, 2024
Texas’ effort has been supported by a number of other states, including some which have sent their National Guard to the border.
Last year saw the highest number of attempted migrant crossings in American history, reaching three million for the first time. December 2023 also broke a new record, with more than 300,000 migrant encounters registered by federal law enforcement.
Furthermore, more than six million illegal immigrants are estimated to have entered the country since President Joe Biden took office in 2021.
