2023

~ Governor DeSantis held a roundtable on border security efforts with sheriffs from across the nation whose communities have been harmed by illegal immigration ~

Sierra Vista, Arizona —Today, Governor Ron DeSantis traveled to the southern border where he was met by sheriffs from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and across the country who conveyed the urgent need to secure the border.

While in Arizona, Governor DeSantis highlighted Florida’s successful actions to combat illegal immigration within the state and along the southern border. Florida’s blueprint for border security includes new methods for combating human smuggling and drug trafficking across state lines and the relocation of illegal aliens who wish to be transported to so-called sanctuary states and cities. Florida’s law enforcement agencies are offering trainings for other states that want to follow Florida’s lead on protecting citizens from the impacts of Biden’s Border Crisis. For more on Florida’s training program, click here.

“Joe Biden is derelict in the performance of his duties and refuses to uphold the borders of our nation,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “In Florida, we’re stepping up even as the federal government falls down on the job. We enacted strong legislation to combat illegal immigration, sent law enforcement officers and equipment to the border, and have dedicated resources to divert migrants to sanctuary jurisdictions. Today we’re taking Florida’s no-nonsense approach to border enforcement nationwide.

To watch the Governor’s full remarks, click here. Video courtesy of the Executive Office of Governor Ron DeSantis.

“Florida is leading the charge to stop the chaos at the southwest border and force Biden to follow public-safety immigration laws,” said Attorney General Ashley Moody. “We continue to beat Biden in federal court over his unlawful mass-release policies, our law enforcement officers are helping their brethren in law enforcement fight the proliferation in crime caused by the broken border, and our great Governor is strengthening state laws to further protect Florida from the public-safety threats and financial strain caused by the unprecedented illegal immigration that the federal government is facilitating.”

“This is not about politics, folks. This is about doing what is right. Which everyone in this room that works for government has taken an oath to do,” said Sheriff Mark Dannels, Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona. “So thank you guys for what you do. We pledge to you both and all our governors, all our sheriffs, all our law enforcement, our prosecutors, our county attorneys, our mayors to work united to fix these borders, secure our borders, and get America back.”

“The American people have to stand up and take back your country, because quite frankly, we are losing that war,” said Sheriff Keiran Donahue, Sheriff of Canyon County, Idaho, and Vice President of the National Sheriff’s Association. “It’s hard for me as a sheriff to stand in front of my troops every day, or my state, or even the nation as the vice president of the National Sheriff Association and say we’re doing great when we don’t have this. We don’t have it because we don’t have a federal government that’s backing us. So it’s very frustrating.”

“I want to thank my colleagues from Florida for making this trip out here, and I just want to remind everybody that over the last few years we’ve all become border sheriffs,” said Sheriff Corey Helton, Sheriff of Lea County, New Mexico, and President of the Western States Sheriffs’ Association. “I’m so thankful that you recognize that there are some major organizations that have come together… We have unified, so to have you on board, I greatly appreciate it. I feel let down by our federal government. I feel, as an elected sheriff, my job is to protect the community that elected me to do that, and we simply cannot do that; we cannot keep up. I want to thank you for your trip here. I definitely support your efforts, and I look forward to meeting and talking to you in the future.”

“I can’t imagine what the people who live on the border are going through, because I do know what’s going on through the rest of the country while our president and the administration stands silent and allows the people of this country to be victimized,” said Sheriff Grady Judd, Sheriff of Polk County, Florida. “That is simply unacceptable. When people are safe and they feel safe, they thrive. And our great state does tremendous. But we need to do that across the United States of America.”

“In Florida, we could sit back and say, well, we’ll fight this in our backyard. But instead, we say let’s fight it on the front. Let’s join together, let’s be united,” said Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Sheriff of Brevard County, Florida. “That’s what this is about. Governor DeSantis asked us to put our resources in to put our money where our mouth is. He’s done that. He is standing here today saying Florida is in this fight and Florida understands this is not just impacting you locally in Cochise County or the other border communities. It’s impacting us. Thank you, Governor, I am honored to stand with you and our Attorney General.”

“When most people come from the south to come to the United States, my little county is probably not their destination, but they come through us and we feel them when they come through us,” said Sheriff P. J. Allred, Sheriff of Graham County, Arizona. “When we’ve encountered them after a pursuit through the desert, when they see us as law enforcement and the vehicles come to a stop, they run to us as law enforcement to get away from the coyotes that were carrying them. I appreciate all of you for being here, being interested in our country, our freedoms, our rights.”

“You’re doing everything you can from the state of Florida for the state of Texas,” said Sheriff Thad Cleveland, Sheriff of Terrell County, Texas. “I spent 26 years in United States Board Patrol. I spent ten years of that career here in Arizona. At one point it was chaos here years ago. And with the hard work of the men and women of the U.S. Border Patrol, we had the safest, most secure border that we’d ever had until two years ago. And it took about six months to dismantle that safe and secure border… We’re reaping from the help you’re giving us… Governor, thank you for coming.”

“I’m really proud of you because not only are you willing to protect the people in Florida, but you’ll send your people to Texas to help protect Texans. It says a lot about you,” said Sheriff Jim Skinner, Sheriff of Collin County, Texas. “Collin County has suffered a 1,320% increase in the number of fentanyl-related deaths. It’s because of the tsunami of death and destruction that flows unimpeded across our southern border. It’s also because President Joe Biden and his administration have abdicated their responsibility to secure our southern border… I appreciate you putting the spotlight on this because it’s important for the American people to understand.”

At a roundtable held near the border in Sierra Vista, Arizona, with sheriffs from across the country whose communities have been harmed by illegal immigration, Governor DeSantis announced an inter-state law enforcement partnership to bring Florida’s successful anti-illegal immigration policies and practices to more American communities. This initiative includes a training program developed by the Florida Highway Patrol and the Florida National Guard’s Counterdrug Task Force which will be made available to law enforcement agencies across the United States. The program will explain Florida’s response to the Biden Border Crisis and train law enforcement officers in multi-agency criminal interdiction.

The Governor also commended the work of Florida law enforcement officers currently deployed to the border as part of Operation Lone Star, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers who recently assisted in the apprehension of a capital murder fugitive. More information on Operation Lone Star can be found here.

The initiatives announced today and Florida’s continuing commitment to on-the-ground and in-the-skies operations build upon Governor DeSantis’ previous actions to step up and lead the border security fight President Biden has abandoned. These actions include:

• Sending Florida state law enforcement officers and equipment to Texas in 2021 where they apprehended thousands of illegal aliens and aided in hundreds of criminal arrests for felonies including human trafficking and drug smuggling;
• Issuing an executive order that prohibits Florida state agencies from providing support for the resettlement of illegal aliens in Florida and prohibits licensing of facilities that house unaccompanied minors;
• Signing legislation that prohibits government contracts with private entities that assist the Biden administration in resettling illegal immigrants into Florida;
• Signing legislation that requires all public employers, contractors, and subcontractors attempting to enter into contracts with public employers to use E-Verify to determine employment eligibility;
• Suing the Biden administration over its unlawful “catch and release” policy and speaking out when the administration announced plans to end Title 42, ludicrously claiming that pandemic restrictions and “emergency measures” were still required domestically while attempting to do away with the pandemic measures at the border;
• Forming a strike force of state and local law enforcement to interdict human smuggling and human trafficking and to seize illegal weapons being transported through the state, resulting thus far in thousands of felony charges, more than 40 human smuggling charges, and more than 125 drug charges and the seizure of more than $2 million of illicit drugs;
• Successfully petitioning the Florida Supreme Court to impanel a statewide grand jury to examine international human smuggling networks that bring aliens to the southern border and ultimately to Florida;
• Securing $24 million to facilitate the transport of illegal aliens to Martha’s Vineyard and other sanctuary jurisdictions, relieving overrun border communities and bringing the reality of the border crisis to the communities that support Biden’s open border policies;
• Issuing an executive order that mobilized state law enforcement and National Guard resources to aid in the interdiction of more than 10,000 migrants attempting to land on Florida’s shores; and
• Signing the nation’s strongest anti-illegal immigration legislation which makes using E-Verify mandatory for any employer with 25 or more employees, imposes enforceable penalties for those employing illegal aliens, enhances penalties for human smuggling, prohibits local governments from issuing identification cards to illegal aliens, invalidates ID cards issued to illegal aliens in other states, and requires hospitals to collect and submit data on the costs of providing healthcare to illegal aliens.

###

The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) provides highway safety and security through excellence in service, education, and enforcement. Learn more on our website.

The Florida Highway Patrol strives to achieve core values of courtesy, service, and protection. It is FHP’s job to help ensure the safety and welfare of millions of Florida’s residents and visitors every day.

To learn more about FHP or how to become one of Florida’s Finest, visit BeATrooper.com.