Florida Gov Ron DeSantis sending National Guard troops to assist Gov Abbott at southern border

 Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Thursday that he is sending National Guard troops from his state to support Texas Governor Greg Abbott's efforts to stem the influx of illegal immigration to the southern border.

At a press conference Thursday morning, DeSantis announced he was offering a battalion of "up to 1,000" Florida National Guard troops to help secure the Texas border. A National Guard spokesperson said 100 soldiers were being sent initially.

“We come here to join together as Floridians to say that we need to stop this invasion of our southern border once and for all,” DeSantis said, standing in front of members of the Florida National Guard. ,

Additionally, the Florida State Guard will be deployed, marking the first time that group has been deployed out of the state.

“Biden has the authority to close this border today,” DeSantis said. "Even if he wanted to, he lacks the will to get the job done. He doesn't have the ability to see the problem and get the job done."

More than a dozen states have announced they support Abbott's agenda on illegal immigration and have said they will provide resources to help secure the border amid record levels of illegal immigration.

Abbott is currently fighting several legal battles with the Biden administration. The federal government has threatened legal action over Texas seizing Shelby Park near Eagle Pass, while the administration is facing lawsuits over Texas' cutting of razor wire and installation of buoys in the Rio Grande.

The Supreme Court recently ruled in the administration's favor when it accepted an emergency appeal to allow agents to cut the border fence installed by Texas at the border. Texas this week published photos of strengthening physical barriers along Eagle Pass.

The administration has also sued over a recently signed law that allows Texas state and local authorities to arrest illegal immigrants. The administration has accused Texas of interfering with federal control over immigration and border security and says it is putting agents and migrants in danger.

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However, Abbott cited constitutional language that demands the federal government "protect each [state] from invasion" and the right of states to defend their own borders.

Abbott argues that the "failure of the Biden administration" to meet those duties triggers a clause in Article 1 that "reserves to this State the right of self-defense." He noted that he has already announced an "invasion" to enforce the authority, which he calls "the supreme law of the land and supersedes any federal statute to the contrary."

DeSantis recently wrote on social media, "If the Constitution had truly made states powerless to defend themselves against invasion, it would not have been ratified in the first place and Texas would never have joined the Union. "