DeSantis announces that Florida will send more than 1,100 agents to reinforce the Texas border

() — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday that the state will redeploy resources to Texas to help with efforts on the southern border.

More than 100 members of the Florida Highway Patrol, 200 members of the Florida Police Department and 800 Florida National Guard soldiers are among the more than 1,100 available officers Florida will send to Texas, according to a governor’s press release.

Drones, inflatable boats and airplanes are also among the equipment Florida will send, the statement read.

In the days since the expiration of Title 42 ––a border policy that was implemented at the beginning of the covid-19 pandemic––, the southern border and some US cities have registered a lower influx of migrants than expected. US authorities are reporting a 50% drop in the number of encounters with migrants along the border on Friday and Saturday, compared to last week, before the policy ended, previously reported.

Although Florida agents can support border efforts, state forces and the National Guard cannot enforce immigration law.

State agents and National Guard soldiers will leave from across Florida between Tuesday and Sunday for the Texas border, according to a source with knowledge of the plan.