Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Operation Lone Star in Full Force as Florida Resources Arrive at Southern Border
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DEL RIO, Texas ~ Today, Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida announced that the state has sent assets to Texas in response to the influx of migrants illegally crossing the southern border. The request for resources was made through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), an agreement between states that allows them to provide personnel and resources to each other in times of emergency.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported 9,171 undocumented migrant contacts (7,891 adults and 1,190 children) during Operation Lone Star from June 26 – August 14, 2021. Additionally, 311 criminal arrests were made including 79 human smuggling cases and 16 stolen vehicles.

In order to increase coastal vigilance and provide improved situational awareness on migrant activities, the State Emergency Response Team is facilitating the coordination of state assets with the United State Coast Guard Incident Management Team on migrant interdictions, repatriations, and vessel targeting.

The Florida National Guard is supporting the Texas Military Department through mission sets including static observation points, roving patrols, and engineer assistance with obstacle improvement. 436 personnel have completed initial orientation and are on-scene completing mission sets alongside Texas National Guard counterparts.

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Forty FDLE agents and eight support team members are deployed along the Texas border as part of Operation Lone Star. On May 19th they were sworn in allowing them to enforce Texas laws. FDLE agents have assisted with 32 arrests including several gang members as well as seizing cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, drug paraphernalia, and a handgun with multiple boxes of ammunition.

101 FHP Troopers are deployed in support of Operation Lone Star along with two fixed-wing aircrafts for monitoring purposes as well as two Mobile Command Vehicles for incident command locations for Command Staff and Troopers during incident responses. Five unmanned aerial vehicle pilots with drones are also deployed to assist with visualization in areas of dense foliage or low light or during night operations.

Finally twenty sworn FWC officers and two mechanics have been deployed to Texas along with ten shallow draft vessels capable of navigating variable depth river environments and twenty four-wheel-drive patrol vehicles.

Governor Ron DeSantis answered the call for support from Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona following their letter requesting immediate assistance with the security crisis overwhelming law enforcement at the southern border. Through EMAC reimbursement is available for resources deployed for emergency situations ensuring that states can provide assistance when needed most.

Filed Under: Government, State
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