As Texas authorities continue to clash with the Biden administration over the southern border crisis, former President Donald Trump issued a statement on Thursday, calling on all ‘willing states’ to deploy their guards to Texas.
“When I was President, we had the most secure Border in History. Joe Biden has surrendered our Border, and is aiding and abetting a massive Invasion of millions of Illegal Migrants into the United States. Instead of fighting to protect our Country from this onslaught, Biden is, unbelievably, fighting to tie the hands of Governor Abbott and the State of Texas, so that the Invasion continues unchecked. In the face of this National Security, Public Safety, and Public Health Catastrophe, Texas has rightly invoked the Invasion Clause of the Constitution, and must be given full support to repel the Invasion,” said Trump in a statement Thursday.
“We encourage all willing States to deploy their guards to Texas to prevent the entry of Illegals, and to remove them back across the Border. All Americans should support the commonsense measures by Texas authorities to protect the Safety, Security, and Sovereignty of Texas, and of the American people. When I am President, on Day One, instead of fighting Texas, I will work hand in hand with Governor Abbott and other Border States to Stop the Invasion, Seal the Border, and Rapidly Begin the Largest Domestic Deportation Operation in History. Those Biden has let in should not get comfortable because they will be going home,” concluded Trump.
Read: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Says Biden Admin Has ‘Broken’ Compact Between US And The States
On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis encouraged his counterpart in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott, to stand firm in the face of an increasingly hostile Biden administration, which is now being urged to take control of the state’s National Guard units.
Florida’s Republican governor also denounced the U.S. Supreme Court for allowing President Joe Biden to prioritize the entry of massive waves of illegal immigrants over America’s national security and internal law and order.
“The Supreme Court has said the federal government has the purview over enforcing immigration law. That would make sense if Texas was trying to flout immigration law,” DeSantis noted. “In other words, if Texas was trying to open the border and the feds didn’t want it open, then I would totally understand” the court’s ruling on Monday.
Florida State Guard
Under a bill approved Thursday by a Florida House panel, the Florida State Guard, revived by Gov. Ron DeSantis, could operate outside Florida and be called into service anytime he “deemed necessary.”
Bill sponsor Mike Giallombardo, R-Cape Coral, described the bill’s proposed changes, which also include lessening training requirements, as “technical.”
Read: Republicans Rush To Defend Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Amid Border Standoff With Biden
The bill would clarify that the State Guard can be deployed to other states under an existing Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which lets states share resources during natural and man-made disasters.
The State Guard was initially set up during World War II to replace Florida National Guard members who were deployed abroad. It became inactive in 1947.
After DeSantis revived the volunteer force in 2022, the size of the State Guard was expanded from up to 400 members to 1,500 members last year, and the Legislature increased its funding from $10 million to $107.6 million, including covering the costs of five aircraft and boats.
Rep. Dan Daley, a Coral Springs Democrat who voted against the bill Thursday, said there is a “year-after-year creep” in the size and duties of the State Guard. He pointed to the purchase of aircraft and boats and, with the new bill, the potential that State Guard members could be sent to Texas to help with immigration issues on the Mexico border.
Read: Texas Dems Urge Biden To Seize Control Of Texas National Guard
“The Florida State Guard was sold to the Legislature with one thing in mind, to be an auxiliary, to be a support system, to direct traffic, to do things that national guardsmen, who are already overworked and understaffed, do,” Daley said.
Daley added the Legislature should continue to focus on expanding the size and role of the National Guard, which lawmakers have been asking Congress to do the past few years.
In addition to deployments, Giallombardo’s bill would remove a requirement that state guard standards and training be equivalent to the Florida National Guard. It also would expand the governor’s power to activate the state guard such as during periods of civil unrest and “at any other time deemed necessary and appropriate.”
Regarding the training standards, Giallombardo, a member of the Florida Army National Guard, said new recruits for the State Guard are not the same as people heading into the National Guard.
“These normally are not 18-year-olds coming to the State Guard,” Giallombardo said. “So, they’re going to be a little more flexible on the training and the standards, so they can on-board medical professionals, IT (information technology) folks that don’t have to necessarily meet military requirements.”
Read: Florida Gov. DeSantis Urges Texas Gov. Greg Abbott To “Hold Their Ground” At Border
The bill would require new recruits to submit fingerprints, paid for by the state, for the FBI to conduct national criminal-history records checks.
The governor’s office in June issued a news release announcing the State Guard’s first graduating class of more than 100 members. DeSantis has requested an additional $57 million for the State Guard next fiscal year.
Android Users, Click To Download The Tampa Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Sign up for our free newsletter.