With the number of illegal aliens crossing Texas’ open border continuing to skyrocket, several Florida sheriffs volunteered to help—but the Texas Department of Emergency Management denied permission.
In July, Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith (R) told Texas Scorecard “thousands upon thousands” are illegally crossing the county’s open border every day.
He also said several Florida sheriffs had offered to come help. What they’re offering differs significantly from the Florida state troopers who came earlier, as they are only allowed to do ride-alongs with the Texas Department of Public Safety. But, aid from these Florida sheriffs would have to be approved by the Texas Department of Emergency Management (TDEM).
And TDEM said no to the offer.
“For reasons unknown to me, TDEM denied the first [State of Texas Assistance Request] made back on July 14th that requested assistance from Florida sheriff deputies. A STAR request is the form used by TDEM for requesting resources from the state,” Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith told Texas Scorecard. “I have been informed by TDEM that I should make yet another STAR request for the same assistance since the first one was denied. I plan on doing that today. Hopefully this request will be granted and Kinney County can receive the assistance it so desperately needs.”
Furthermore, Kinney County Sheriff Brad Coe had requested resources from DPS. As of yesterday, August 10, Coe said he had not yet received approval.
Smith provided photographs of illegal aliens crossing through the county over the past few months.
Click to enlarge.
Before receiving Smith’s statement, Texas Scorecard asked the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement (FDLE) if they had received permission from Texas for these sheriffs to send help. We were asked to contact Texas DPS.
“FDLE doesn’t give that permission,” said Gretl Plessinger of FDLE. “We have sent state assets based on the requests from the Texas Department of Public Safety. You’d want to talk to them about whether or not they’re going to request additional assets.”
Inquiries sent to TDEM, DPS, and Gov. Greg Abbott received no reply before publication.
“It should be plain to all Texans that Greg Abbott is actively letting the border invasion worsen and fester so that he can bolster the case against Joe Biden as he prepares for his 2024 presidential bid,” said Andy Hopper of Wise County Conservatives. “His recent rhetoric that he will ‘hold Biden accountable’ is indicative of his apparent belief that his role as governor is one as a whistleblower, rather than the chief executive and commander in chief of the ninth-largest economy of the world.”
TEDM’s response comes on the heels of reports that U.S. Border Patrol reassigned agents in the Texas field to “processing” illegal aliens instead of “apprehending.” Also this month, a federal judge temporarily halted an “ambiguous” executive order from Abbott prohibiting private companies and nonprofits from transporting illegal aliens from the southern border into other parts of the state.
Citizens also learned Abbott’s promised “border wall” is a chain-link fence. No action has yet been taken to stop illegal border crossings.
“Texas must be preserved, and our governor has abdicated his responsibility in the name of political posturing and overt theater,” Hopper said.
