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governor Greg Abbott The state on Tuesday said it will deploy as many police and soldiers as it can to protect the Texas-Mexico border from a potential surge in immigrant traffic as federal rules to expedite the deportation of people from the United States expire. I appealed to other governors.
Border encounters between law enforcement and immigrants have dropped significantly in recent days, but Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is quick to heed the call and deploy 1,100 National Guard and law enforcement personnel. said he was ready.
Abbott noted that Idaho Governor Brad Little also offered to help the state trooper.
Abbott said his request was made for the following reasons: end of title 42a public health order issued during the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed authorities to quickly deport migrants without forcing them to apply for asylum.
in him letter to the governorAbbott said Texas needs help dealing with the “flood” of immigrants as the federal government estimates there are 150,000 immigrants waiting to enter the state. He continued to accuse President Joe Biden of neglecting border security and said criminals and drug traffickers could flow from Mexico into communities across the country.
“In the absence of a federal government, we as governors must come together to combat President Biden’s ongoing border crisis and ensure the safety and security that all Americans deserve,” Abbott wrote. . He urged his fellow state officials to “send all available law enforcement personnel and resources to the Rio Grande River.”
Mr. DeSantis also echoed Mr. Abbott’s criticism of the president, promising to send five planes, 17 drones and 10 boats from Florida.
However, a significant increase in border crossings has yet to materialize.U.S. agents and migrants encountered at border days after Title 42 ended Thursday halveda senior Biden administration official said on Monday.
Unlike during the pandemic, new rules from the Biden administration allow immigrants to book asylum applications.
Despite Title 42 being in force, federal immigration officers arrested 2.3 million immigrants last year, a record high. Last week, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez said: issued a one-week disaster declaration After hundreds of immigrants flocked to the south bank of the Rio Grande in Brownsville. El Paso City officials have converted two empty middle schools into immigrant shelters.
The out-of-state officers sent to Texas will support Abbott’s Operation Lone Star, launched two years ago to combat drug and immigration smuggling from Mexico into Texas. Abbott said the state has spent $4.5 billion on border security since 2021.A ProPublica investigation found Mr. Abbott spent seven times on border security. misled the public Successful efforts, including allegations of drug seizures and criminal arrests.
Abbott and then-Arizona Governor Doug Ducey made similar pleas to state governors asking them to help with border security. in 2021. DeSantis, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, responded by sending his support to both states.
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