Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that members of the Florida National Guard and the Florida State Guard will be deployed to assist Texas in addressing challenges at the southern border. Governor DeSantis, who recently withdrew from the Republican presidential nomination race, revealed that Florida will provide a battalion of National Guard members based on Texas’s specific requirements.
This deployment supplements the existing support, including over 90 officers from Florida’s Highway Patrol, Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Department of Law Enforcement, who are already aiding in border-related efforts. Governor DeSantis emphasized that additional law enforcement resources are on the way, underlining the significance of states defending their sovereignty.
“States have every right to defend their sovereignty, and we are pleased to increase our support to Texas as the Lone Star State works to stop the invasion across the border,” stated Governor DeSantis. He emphasized the importance of reinforcing Texas’s border security, including the installation of additional barriers like razor wire. Governor DeSantis asserted, “We don’t have a country if we don’t have a border.”
Maj. Gen. John Haas, the adjutant general of Florida, clarified that these deployments align with Florida’s history of supporting border security missions in Texas, involving federal and state deployments. Last spring, the Florida National Guard played a significant role in supporting Operation Lone Star in Texas, illustrating the state’s commitment to such efforts.
Mark Thieme, the Director of the Florida State Guard, affirmed the readiness of his branch to stand “shoulder-to-shoulder” with Texas state agency partners. He acknowledged the unprecedented challenges posed by the surge in illegal immigration along Texas’s border and expressed the Florida State Guard’s preparedness for rapid emergency response, public safety operations, and humanitarian assistance wherever required.
The collaborative efforts between Florida and Texas underscore the ongoing commitment to addressing border-related issues and ensuring the safety and security of both states.
