DeSantis says Florida sending 50 officers to enforce US-Mexico border in Texas

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) says the state will be sending 50 police officers to help enforce the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas.

An announcement from DeSantis on Friday says the state law enforcement officers would be sent to help deal with what Republicans have called a crisis as the border has been seeing some of the highest numbers of migrants in years, The Miami Herald reported.

DeSantis said the officers will be ready for duty on Monday 

The initiative was announced last week with DeSantis saying the “border security crisis impacts every state and every American.”

The exact plans for the officers once they get to Texas or where the funding is coming from for the operation are unclear.

“That is still a point of discussion,” DeSantis said. “Typically, if someone would help us, you know, we would pick up some of their funding and so that is how we would hope that it goes. But we do not anticipate getting any federal funds.”

“We are unable to share mission specifics at this time to protect the security of the missions they are working on,” said Katie Strickland, a spokesperson for the governor.

Local officers could be used to potentially fill the spots of the state officers who will be leaving for the border, according to the Herald.

DeSantis said when the plan was announced he was responding to “the failure of the Biden administration to secure our southern border.”

Vice President Harris toured the border for the first time Friday after weeks of GOP criticism for not taking the trip and ahead of former President Trump’s visit there Wednesday. 

Tags Border control Border crisis Donald Trump Florida immigration policy Ron DeSantis

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