(Tribune News Service) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday announced he is sending members of the Florida State Guard, a civilian military force under his control, and other state resources to the U.S.-Mexico border to help Texas stop what he called an “invasion.”

The deployment comes as Texas is in a standoff with the Biden administration over efforts to keep migrants from crossing into the state with a concertina-wire barrier. In January, the Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration and said federal officials would be allowed to tear down state-erected barriers, which Texas officials have vowed to continue building if taken down.

“The goal is to help Texas fortify this border, help them strengthen the barricades, help them add barriers, help them add the wire that they need so that we can stop this invasion once and for all,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Jacksonville.

DeSantis said State Guard members would be deployed to Texas alongside members of the Florida National Guard and Florida Highway Patrol troopers, who in recent years have taken part in Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border security initiatives. It is unclear how many members will be sent, or for how long, but at the press conference there were roughly 50 members standing by the governor as he made the announcement.

The deployment will mark the first time members of the Florida State Guard have been activated to do work outside the state.

The volunteer force, which was revived by DeSantis in 2022 to respond to emergencies in the state, so far has been activated to respond to natural disasters. DeSantis’ office indicated in the last year he also intends to use the State Guard to help “law enforcement with riots and illegal immigration.”

At the press conference, DeSantis was flanked by dozens of members of the Florida State Guard, Florida National Guard and Florida Highway Patrol. A private jet registered to a private company was parked behind them and a podium that read: “Stop the invasion.”

“We at the Florida State Guard are postured to deliver rapid response to any and all threats to public safety wherever and whenever need arises,” said Mark Thieme, the director of Florida State Guard at the press conference.

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