Sunshine Sentinel

Florida Gov. and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis says the U.S. is falling on its face concerning the nation's sovereignty with regards to the southern border.

"The chaos we are witnessing at our southern border is a direct result of the president's dereliction of duty. If Joe Biden won't do his duty to protect our people and our borders, Florida will step up," posted Ron DeSantis on Twitter.

DeSantis, while campaigning for the Republican presidential nomination, visited the U.S.-Mexico border for the first time June 7, taking credit for arranging flights that transported migrants from Texas to California, CNN reported. Speaking at a roundtable in Sierra Vista, Arizona, alongside law enforcement officials, DeSantis attributed the need for these flights to California's policies, which he believes incentivize the flow of migrants into the U.S. 

Presenting himself as a strong leader on immigration, DeSantis pledged to take more decisive action than previous administrations, including former President Donald Trump, in putting an end to undocumented immigration. His efforts, however, have faced criticism from Democrats, including California Gov. Gavin Newsom.  

During his visit to Arizona, DeSantis reiterated his dedication to border security and voiced his disapproval of Biden's approach to the border crisis. DeSantis accused the president of neglecting his responsibilities and failing to uphold the nation's borders.

"Joe Biden is derelict in the performance of his duties and refuses to uphold the borders of our nation," DeSantis said in a statement.

He emphasized Florida's proactive approach, declaring, "Today we're taking Florida's no-nonsense approach to border enforcement nationwide." Many of the sheriffs in attendance expressed gratitude for DeSantis' support, recognizing the detrimental impact of illegal immigration on their communities.               

Sheriff Mark Dannels of Cochise County, Arizona, voiced his appreciation for the collaborative approach, affirming his county's commitment to addressing the border challenges, according to a news release by DeSantis.

"We pledge to you, and all our governors, all our sheriffs, all our law enforcement, our prosecutors, our county attorneys and our mayors to work united to fix these borders, secure our borders and get America back,"  Dannels said.

The sheriff emphasized the urgency for concrete action and voiced his frustration with the federal government's handling of border security.

"This is not about politics, folks," Dannels said. "This is about doing what is right. Which everyone in this room that works for government has taken an oath to do."