DeSantis organizes coalition of 90 sheriffs to fight impact of border crisis across US
Anna Giaritelli
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Law enforcement leaders from across the country have formed a first-of-its-kind alliance and partnered with a Republican governor to clamp down collectively on the negative impacts of the border crisis.
Ninety sheriffs departments from border states and coast to coast described being “abandoned” by the Biden administration and dealing with fentanyl seeping over the border, immigrant smuggling, violent crime, and other problems they alleged resulted from the end of Trump-era policies.
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“We can no longer sit by and watch our nation become overrun by gang activity and drug-related violence,” the sheriffs said. “As elected law enforcement officers, we must uphold our oaths of office and protect the legal residents of our jurisdictions. While we are committed to upholding the law and maintaining public safety, the federal government has failed in its responsibilities to secure our nation’s borders.”
Behind the group’s formation is Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL), a front-runner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination who Republican political consultants told the Washington Examiner is trying to outperform fellow contender, former President Donald Trump, as to how serious he is on tackling crime and border security.
“Illegal Immigration has not only ravaged communities along the southern border, it has harmed states across the country with the deadly influx of cartel-trafficked fentanyl and higher rates of violent crime,” DeSantis said in a statement Thursday. “I’m proud to work with this growing group of law enforcement leaders and bring Florida’s dedicated resources and leadership to bear on this national problem.”
DeSantis met with sheriffs earlier this month while on a visit to the Arizona border, where he heard from law enforcement about the impact of the record-high number of illegal immigrants encountered at the nation’s borders under President Joe Biden.
The 90 sheriffs applauded DeSantis for stepping up as a governor from a state not on the southern border to assist Gov. Greg Abbott (R-TX) and to implore his own state and local law enforcement to take the problems of illegal immigration and drug smuggling seriously.
“Under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has recognized how the porous border has had far-reaching impacts and has stepped in to support public safety,” the sheriffs wrote. “This includes creating a nation-leading human smuggling and drug trafficking strike force in partnership with local sheriffs, lending physical support by deploying members of their national guard, highway patrol and state law enforcement to the border, and enacting a program to voluntarily transport illegal immigrants to so-called sanctuary jurisdictions across the United States.”
DeSantis has frustrated Democratic politicians in Massachusetts and California by flying immigrants to their states, similar to how Abbott has bused immigrants to major Northern cities.
This spring, the Florida legislature passed a major anti-illegal immigration bill, and DeSantis signed it into law in May.
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He is slated to visit Eagle Pass, Texas, on Monday and hear from local residents about their experiences living on the border and recommendations for regaining control of the international boundary.
DeSantis’s office did not respond to a request for comment about larger plans for the coalition going forward.