Florida Governor Ron DeSantis responded to a call by his Texas counterpart, Greg Abbott, asking for the governors’ support in shielding the southern border and thus preventing the passage of undocumented immigrants. Republicans offered to send hundreds of National Guard troops and law enforcement officers to help “defend” the area.
Posted by Abbott a letter to ask all the governors of the country for support and DeSantis was one of the first to respond. This provided the state, which borders the Mexican border, with over 1,100 properties. The governor said, “Communities across the country are feeling the effects of the Biden border crisis and the federal government’s resignation from duty undermines our nation’s sovereignty and the rule of law (…) Florida is Texas’ response to this crisis.” Ready to help give.” in a statement. Resources include:
It is not yet clear how these assets will be used, but Amelia Johnson, a spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Emergency Management, said the mission is underway. “The division is currently organizing personnel for their deployment this week,” he said in statements cited by the Sun Sentinel.
However, Florida officials also assured that the deployment of these troops does not mean the state will be left unprotected. Items shipped to Texas will still be available should their services be needed in the Sunshine State, especially ahead of hurricane season on June 1. “Our top priority is to protect the citizens of the state of Florida – we are not taking resources currently in use away from their current responsibilities. At the same time, we can redirect resources if necessary,” Johnson he said.
Texas tries to shield its southern border before the end of Title 42
Interstate assistance is provided by the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), to which both Texas and Florida belong. This includes giving aid to areas that need it, on the condition that they are reimbursed for any damage or loss. The states that have accepted the aid can pay for it. Or, request help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to cover some of the cost. It is not the first time that DeSantis has answered the call, already in 2021 he deployed reinforcements to Texas and Arizona when he requested immediate assistance along the southern border.
