Florida National Guard on the ground at southern border aiding in ‘security crisis’
Lydia Nusbaum contributed to this report.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – A few days after Gov. Ron DeSantis deployed support to the southern border with Mexico to help quell the border crisis, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie traveled to meet with some of the deployed personnel.
“Yesterday, I met with @FLGuard as they deployed to Texas,” Guthrie said Monday. “I want to thank these hardworking men and women for their service to aid in Texas’ border security crisis.”
“We stand with Texas as they work to repel illegal aliens at the border,” Guthrie said last week. “We are prepared to assist however needed.”
A total of over 1,000 Florida agents from varying departments and agencies were to be deployed to the border last week.
According to the governor’s office, the support included:
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office
- 101 Florida Highway Patrol Troopers
- 200 Florida Department of Law Enforcement Officers, in teams of 40
- 20 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Officers
- 800 Florida National Guard Soldiers
- 20 Emergency Management Personnel – including radio technicians, logisticians, mechanics and planners
- Five available fixed wing aircraft with monitoring equipment and downlink capabilities with two aviation crew teams
- Two Mobile Command Vehicles and two command teams
- 17 available unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) and support teams
- 10 vessels – including airboats, shallow draft vessels, and mid-range vessels
“The impacts of Biden’s Border Crisis are felt by communities across the nation, and the federal government’s abdication of duty undermines the sovereignty of our country and the rule of law,” DeSantis said last week. “At my direction, state agencies including law enforcement and the Florida National Guard are being deployed to Texas, with assets including personnel, boats and planes.”
“While Biden ignores the crisis he created, Florida stands ready to help Texas respond to this crisis,” he said.
The governor’s office said states can provide these resources through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which Texas and Florida are both parties of.
Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas requested help from governors across the country.
DeSantis made a similar move in June 2021 when he sent personnel and equipment from the the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Highway Patrol, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to the southern border.
“When the Governors of Texas and Arizona reached out for help, Florida answered the call,” DeSantis said in 2021. “We are witnessing a catastrophe at the southern border under the Biden Administration. In recent months, we have seen people from the terrorist watch list, known sex offenders and a flood of fentanyl cross over the border. This is a national security crisis, and we must get it under control.”
