More Border Support: Governor Ron DeSantis Sends Additional Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard to Assist Texas
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. ~ TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - In a recent announcement, Governor Ron DeSantis revealed that Florida will be sending members of the Florida National Guard (FLNG) and the Florida State Guard (FSG) to assist Texas in their efforts to secure the southern border. This deployment comes as Texas continues to face an influx of illegal immigration, with over 302,000 encounters recorded in December alone.

According to Governor DeSantis, Florida is offering up to a battalion of National Guard members, approximately 1,000 soldiers, who will be deployed based on the needs of Texas. This deployment is in addition to the more than 90 officers from the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) who are already assisting at the border.

Governor DeSantis stated that states have a right to defend their sovereignty and that Florida is pleased to increase its support for Texas in their efforts to stop illegal immigration. He also mentioned that additional law enforcement resources are ready to deploy as requested by Texas state officials.

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Major General John D. Haas, The Adjutant General of Florida, stated that this is not a new mission for them as they have been supporting border security missions in Texas for several years. He also mentioned that last spring, the Florida National Guard was one of the first in the nation to deploy rotations of soldiers to support Operation Lone Star in Texas.

Florida State Guard Director Mark Thieme expressed his readiness for their deployment and stated that they are prepared to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with state agency partners in direct support of their colleagues in Texas.

Since 2021, Florida has been providing direct law enforcement and military assistance to Texas. The FLNG has supported the Texas Military Department through various mission sets including static observation points, roving patrols, and engineer assistance with obstacle improvement. FHP has made contact with nearly 150,000 illegal aliens and conducted over 27,000 traffic stops resulting in numerous arrests for human smuggling and trafficking.

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FDLE has also sent rotations of officers to assist the Texas Department of Public Safety with the arrest of violent felony suspects, including gang members. FWC has deployed a total of 540 personnel, 525 four-wheel drive patrol trucks, and 24 vessels to assist at the border.

The recent surge in illegal immigration has been a cause for concern for both Florida and Texas. In Fiscal Year 2023, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recorded over 2.5 million encounters at the southern border, surpassing last year's record. This includes 169 individuals on the terror watch list attempting to cross into the United States.

Since President Biden took office, more than 10 million illegal immigrants have crossed the border, including over 1.7 million known gotaways. In December alone, CBP seized roughly 260 million lethal doses of fentanyl at the border.

Governor DeSantis emphasized that securing the border is crucial for maintaining national security and protecting American citizens. He also mentioned that Florida stands ready to support Texas in their efforts to stop illegal immigration and defend their sovereignty.

Filed Under: Government, State
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