Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a Republican, announced on Monday that sheriff's departments across the state were prepared to enforce President-elect Donald Trump's immigration policies once he takes office next week. Immigration has been a central issue for Republicans, contributing to their strong performance in the November elections, including a significant victory in the Florida Senate race.
During a press conference in Tallahassee, DeSantis revealed plans to convene a special session of the state legislature a week after Trump's inauguration to discuss Florida's response to the new immigration policies, which are expected to be enacted swiftly. Florida had already banned sanctuary cities shortly after DeSantis assumed office in 2019. However, with an immigrant population of approximately 4.8 million, a quarter of whom are undocumented, DeSantis emphasized the need for new legislation to enforce the incoming administration's stringent immigration rules.
"We are not a sanctuary state; we banned sanctuary cities, but we must ensure effective accountability to those who choose to defy these policies," DeSantis said, noting that the special session would also require some funding. "It won't require much funding, but I have many sheriffs eager to help, and they just need a little support."
Florida legislative leaders, however, have criticized the governor's move as "premature."
One of the key immigration policies expected under Trump's administration is a mass deportation initiative targeting individuals with criminal records, potentially affecting up to 11 million people. DeSantis, a vocal critic of President Biden's border policies, has supported such initiatives and previously partnered with Texas Governor Greg Abbott to transport migrants to sanctuary cities like New York and Chicago.
DeSantis stressed that Florida's state legislators have a responsibility to ensure public safety, referencing illegal immigrants allegedly involved in looting after hurricanes in the fall. When questioned about funding for sheriff departments, the governor suggested it could run into the "tens of millions" of dollars but did not provide a specific figure.
The governor also asserted that he could suspend officials obstructing immigration enforcement and would advocate for additional powers to revoke benefits for undocumented immigrants, such as in-state tuition, which he claims encourages people to move to Florida.
In 2023, Florida passed legislation limiting undocumented immigrants' access to identification cards and driver's licenses, while enabling local law enforcement to share immigration information with federal authorities—unlike sanctuary cities and states that prevent such actions.
Reactions:
DeSantis: "We must act swiftly. The American people made their stance clear."
Democratic Rep. Anna V. Eskamani: "Governor DeSantis is focusing on attacking immigrants rather than addressing urgent issues like housing, healthcare, and wages."
Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez: "It’s irresponsible to preempt federal action on immigration before knowing what President Trump will announce, as state interference could undermine the federal efforts."
The special legislative session is scheduled for January 27, 2025, and will also address disaster relief and the process for amending the state constitution via citizen petitions.
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