Governor Ron DeSantis may be behind Donald Trump in the polls, but we have a long way to go in this election season, and he is busy laying out his policy platform so that primary voters can make an informed decision.

Yesterday, the governor met up with excellent and intrepid Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, who has made the southern border one of his major focuses (to the point that the Biden administration blocked him from using a drone in 2021, in order to try and conceal the extent of the border crisis – but in a wonderful Streisand Effect moment, Melugin got a helicopter ride instead). Melugin reported that Ron DeSantis received a briefing from Texas Department of Public Safety on the current border situation, then he joined Melugin for a boat AND a helicopter tour of Eagle Pass, Texas.

More illegal crossings seen from the air in helicopter tour over Eagle Pass, TX with FL Gov. @RonDeSantis pic.twitter.com/82SiWE83Im

— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) June 26, 2023

Today, DeSantis gave a big policy speech regarding the border in Eagle Pass, and immigration reform as a whole.

In his first major policy rollout of his 2024 presidential campaign, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday proposed a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration, including sending the US military to the border and mass detention and deportation of undocumented people.”

DeSantis would also end birthright citizenship and build a wall at the southern border, resurfacing two ideas once championed by his chief rival for the GOP nomination, Donald Trump.”

The immigration platform as written offers a harsh approach toward the country’s undocumented population and the southern border. Described by DeSantis, though, the execution would be even more severe and would test the legal boundaries that have long defined who has the right to be in the United States and how the government can address those who do not.”

Speaking here in Eagle Pass on Monday, DeSantis said he would allow the use of deadly force against people who attempt to cross into the US by cutting through border structures. He agreed with a man in the audience who likened the flow of undocumented migrants to “an act of war” that would require a military response. DeSantis also proposed giving states the power to “declare an invasion” and deport people on their own.”

Ron DeSantis also proposed taking on the cartels with the might of the federal government.

DeSantis also vowed to hold Mexican drug cartels accountable by authorizing sanctions on leaders and other entities, as well as strengthening penalties for those who traffic fentanyl and declaring them “transnational criminal organizations.”

“If the Mexican government drags its feet, DeSantis will reserve the right to operate across the border to secure our territory from Mexican cartel activities. If the Mexican government won’t stop cartel drug manufacturing, DeSantis will surge resources to the Navy and the Coast Guard and block precursor chemicals from entering Mexican ports,” the proposal reads.”

The entire policy proposal can be read here. And yes, many of these proposals have been brought up by Donald Trump, who recently said that he would sign an executive order to end birthright citizenship. DeSantis would likely face the same uphill battle with that particular proposal, though he has not proposed using an EO. However, the governor did subtly point out that Trump had a chance to do all of this while he was president.

While blasting Biden, DeSantis also seemed to take aim at Trump – without mentioning the former president – for failing to finish building the border wall during his four years in the White House.”

“For decades, leaders from both parties have produced empty promises on border security, and now it is time to act to stop the invasion once and for all,” DeSantis said in his campaign’s release. “As president, I will declare a national emergency on day one and will not rest until we build the wall, shut down illegal entry, and win the war against the drug cartels. No excuses. We will get it done.”

And this is Trump’s Achilles heel – not the politically motivated indictments (though the documents one is certainly going to be a legal problem because two things can be true at the same time) – the fact that he now has a record as president. When Trump says he can solve things within six months, the natural question should always be “then why didn’t you before?” He is no longer running as a political neophyte who hasn’t been presented with an opportunity. If he blames the Deep State, then isn’t Ron DeSantis correct that it would take years to undo it?

It will be up to voters to determine if they accept Trump’s explanations and deflections when confronted with his own record in a debate (because that will surely happen). It will also be up to voters to decide if they like the very similar approach that DeSantis is taking toward border policy.

Featured image: original Victory Girls art by Darleen Click