Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that state and local law enforcement officers have committed to deploying to Texas and Arizona to provide additional resources in response to the border crisis.

“America’s border security crisis impacts every state and every American,” said Governor Ron DeSantis.  Governors Abbott and Ducey recently sent out a call for help to every state in the nation, needing additional law enforcement manpower and other resources to aid with border security. I’m proud to announce today that the state of Florida is answering the call. Florida has your back.” 

The move comes following a letter late last week from Governors Greg Abbott of Texas and Doug Ducey of Arizona requesting immediate assistance to quell the surge of illegal migrants, apprehend illegal criminal aliens, and secure our border.

FBI Director Christopher Wray recently said that there is “no question” that Mexican cartel activity has crossed the border into the U.S. In just January to April of this year, the Texas Department of Public Safety seized nearly 95 pounds of fentanyl in Texas. That equates to 21.5 million lethal doses of this drug. That is a spike compared to 2020 when the same agency seized only 11 pounds over the first four months.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, last month there were more than 180,000 illegal immigrants caught attempting entry along the Southwest Border. For the five fiscal years ending in 2019, an average of just 15% of individuals encountered by law enforcement had previously attempted to cross the border within that year.

The following sheriff’s offices and state law enforcement agencies have already committed to sending aid:

▪ The Florida Highway Patrol
▪ The Florida Department of Law Enforcement
▪ The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
▪ Brevard County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Escambia County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Holmes County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Lee County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Pasco County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
▪ Walton County Sheriff’s Office

The Florida Division of Emergency Management is coordinating this deployment of the law enforcement officers under the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC). The Emergency Management Assistance Compact is a national mutual aid system that allows states to share resources from all disciplines, protect personnel who deploy, and be reimbursed for mission-related costs.