Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Saturday is set to host Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for a border security meeting.

What You Need To Know

  • A border security briefing involving Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas law enforcement officials is set for Saturday, July 17 in Del Rio, Texas

  • Gov. Abbott has vowed to complete the border wall former President Donald Trump started and has called for other states to aid Texas with border law enforcement

  • Gov. DeSantis responded by sending law enforcement officers to the Texas-Mexico border 

  • Like Abbott, DeSantis has been critical of President Joe Biden's border policies 

The meeting is set for 2:15 p.m. CDT in Del Rio, Texas, which is located on the U.S.-Mexico border, about 160 miles west of San Antonio.

The briefing, which will take place at Del Rio International Airport, comes after Gov. Abbott vowed to complete former President Trump’s border wall via diverted state funds as well as private donations.

The meeting also comes on the heels of Abbott invoking the Emergency Management Assistance Compact, which permits states to help other states in emergency situations or when disaster occurs.

Abbott characterizes the influx of migrants crossing the border into Texas as an emergency. Gov. DeSantis responded by sending Florida law enforcement officers to aid Texas Border Patrol.

DeSantis, who is up for reelection next year and is widely considered a potential Republican frontrunner for the White House in 2024, is among a group of GOP governors who have followed former President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration measures, seeking to revive a potent political weapon against Democrats for the 2022 midterm elections. 

DeSantis has been vocal in his criticism of President Joe Biden’s administration.

“We are witnessing a catastrophe at the southern border under the Biden Administration,” DeSantis said in June statement.

Saturday’s briefing will also include Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd, Adjutant General of Texas Tracy Norris, National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd and Val Verde County Sheriff Joe Frank Martinez

The Associated Press contributed to this report.