Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced that the Lone Star State would be deploying more than 10,000 personnel to the Texas-Mexico border. The combination of Texas National Guard troops and police is intended to stem the tide caused by the end of Title 42.
Title 42 originally began as a pandemic measure by former President Donald Trump. The provision allows the federal government to deport migrants quicker.
The Biden White House is allowing the rule to expire May 11.
The border plan comes under a new organization announced by the governor, the Texas Tactical Border Force.
From Texas National Guard deployed in El Paso.
More razor wire has been installed along the Texas-Mexico border. pic.twitter.com/41CHDPkRPK
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) May 9, 2023
Federal officials believe that the end of the policy could lead to a sharp increase in the number of migrants crossing the border.
One estimate was as high as 13,000 daily.
Abbott said that Biden “is laying down a welcome mat to people across the entire world, saying that the United States border is wide open, and it would lead to an incredible amount of people coming across the border illegally.”
The governor also said that the “open border policies” will lead to a “catastrophic disaster.”
Separately, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced that his state would assist with the creation of a border wall.
The governor cited the quick work his state took following hurricanes last year. He said that he was “willing to send our Florida guys down to the border and get them building the wall and they will do it very quickly.”
Separately, the governor cited the large flow of drugs, especially fentanyl, across the border.
Last year, Florida repaired a crucial bridge damaged by Hurricane Ian in three days. Pine Island had been cut off from the mainland and the swift work by the state reached national media attention.
Both DeSantis and Abbott gained additional notoriety last year for sending hundreds of migrants northward, including to Martha’s Vineyard, an upscale island off the coast of Massachusetts.
