Florida Governor Ron DeSantis revealed his comprehensive plan to secure the southern border with Mexico, aiming to gain ground in the race for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination

against Donald Trump. Speaking at an event in Eagle Pass, Texas, near the Rio Grande river border, DeSantis criticized Trump and other past presidents for their perceived inaction on immigration issues. DeSantis emphasized the need for action and pledged to "get the job done."

As DeSantis seeks to overcome a significant polling gap with Trump, he is targeting the hardcore conservative voters within the Republican Party. His border-security plan is part of his broader efforts to appeal to this voter base, which Trump has successfully mobilized with his hardline stance on immigration.

Under DeSantis' proposed plan, he would put an end to "catch and release" policies, detain migrants until their hearing dates, deny entry to migrants claiming political asylum at the border, and tax remittances from undocumented migrants to fund the construction of a border wall. DeSantis also aims to eliminate "birthright citizenship" and empower state and local officials to enforce federal immigration laws. He pledged to deploy law enforcement assets along the border to combat the trafficking of drugs like fentanyl into the United States.

DeSantis intends to take unilateral executive action to implement his plan without waiting for Congress to act, aligning with Trump's approach during his presidency. Trump's campaign accused DeSantis of copying his policy agenda, highlighting similarities in their positions on birthright citizenship.

While DeSantis aims to address immigration concerns by presenting his plan, critics argue that it echoes the "cruel and callous" policies of the Trump administration, suggesting it offers no substantial improvement to the immigration system.

DeSantis defended his use of private planes to relocate migrants from Texas to Democratic-run states, stating that it has been effective and will continue to be used. The Biden administration recently won a Supreme Court case, affirming federal priorities in immigration policy enforcement and preventing border states from challenging those priorities.

As DeSantis seeks to differentiate himself from Trump and establish his policy platform on a national level, his hardline stance on immigration will continue to be a focal point in the competition for the Republican presidential nomination. Photo by Gage Skidmore from Peoria, AZ, United States of America, Wikimedia commons.