Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Monday that sheriff departments up and down the state were ready and willing to enact President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies once he takes office next week.
Why It Matters
Immigration was a key issue Republicans focused on to ride to a wave of election victories in November, including a resounding victory in a Florida Senate race.
Speaking to reporters in Tallahassee, DeSantis said he would call a special session of the state legislature a week after Trump’s inauguration to determine how Florida should respond to new policies expected to take effect almost immediately.
Newsweek reached out to the Florida Sheriffs Association for further comment via email Monday morning.
What To Know
Florida banned sanctuary cities shortly after DeSantis took office in 2019, but with the state being home to some 4.8 million immigrants, around a quarter of which are undocumented, the governor said new legislation would be needed to enforce the White House’s tough new rules.
“We’re not a sanctuary state, we banned sanctuary cities, but you’ve got to have effective accountability to hold those folks accountable if they choose to go in a different direction,” DeSantis said when announcing he would call the special session. “It will also require some funding. Not a lot of funding, but I have a lot of sheriffs that are chomping at the bit, they want to be able to help, and they just need a little bit of funding.”
One of the key immigration policies expected to be enacted by the new Trump administration within the first few days is a mass deportation program. Trump has said this will be aimed at those who have committed other crimes, while also touting figures upward of 11 million people.
DeSantis is one of several Republican governors to have shown support from the program, having been vocal in his disapproval of President Joe Biden‘s border policies and previously joined GOP Texas Governor Greg Abbott in sending newly-arrived migrants to sanctuary cities such as New York and Chicago.
In his press conference Monday, the governor said Florida’s state representatives had a role to play in increasing public safety, pointing to illegal immigrants who were suspected of looting following hurricanes in the fall.
When asked how much additional funding would be needed from the state in order to support sheriff departments, DeSantis said a figure had not been reached, but it could be in the “tens of millions” of dollars.
DeSantis also said he had the power to suspend those who try to stand in the way of immigration enforcement, and that he would push for additional powers to revoke benefits offered to illegal immigrants, such as offering preferential tuition in the state, which he said was an incentive to head to Florida.
Florida introduced legislation in late 2023 which did limit undocumented migrants abilities to be issued an I.D. card or be granted a diver’s license. It also enabled local law enforcement to send immigration information to federal authorities, in contrast to sanctuary states and cities, which actively prevent that.
What People Are Saying
Governor DeSantis, at his press conference: “We need to act, and we need to act quickly. We don’t have time to waste. The American people spoke very clearly.”
Democratic State Representative Anna V. Eskamani, on X: “Floridians are struggling with skyrocketing housing and insurance costs, unaffordable healthcare, and stagnant wages. Instead of addressing these pressing issues, Governor DeSantis is prioritizing attacks on immigrants, undermining our democratic process, and giving himself more power to override the will of the people.”
What’s Next
The special legislative session has been called for January 27, 2025. DeSantis said the state’s legislature would also look at natural disaster relief and the system of amending the state’s constitution through citizen-initiated petitions.
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