POLK COUNTY, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a news conference Wednesday morning at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office to pledge partnership from all levels state to local with soon-to-be President Donald Trump’s administration on tackling illegal immigration.
Flanked by Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the governor previewed Trump’s incoming presidency as a rare chance to “finally solve something that has been an issue in this country for decades.”
“With the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president, we are not approaching the new administration in a lackadaisical fashion. We in Florida have a sense of urgency to accomplish this mission, and the mission is very simple. We need to end the illegal immigration crisis once and for all in these United States of America,” DeSantis said.
“(...) Now is such a golden opportunity (...) if I tell you I’m going to do something and then I have an opportunity to do it, I do it. I’m not going to tell you I’m going to do something and then not do it.”
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DeSantis outlined the following priorities for a new legislative session:
- Requiring law-enforcement agencies to have maximum participation in immigration enforcement.
- Higher criminal penalties for illegal entry into Florida under state law.
- Ensuring existing state and local authorities are empowered to detain individuals, as ICE is able to.
- Broaden the legal definition of “gang” to spur more enforcement in that sense.
- Reforms to education and voting rights to discourage participation by illegal immigrants.
- Increasing penalties for illegal immigrants cases of voter fraud and/or registering to vote.
- ID verification for money transfers out of Florida.
- Bail and flight risk presumptions for illegal immigrants brought up on charges.
“What we’ve done is tailor these policies to build off that so that we get the maximum impact here in Florida,” he said.
Judd stressed that Florida should be a state model in the early days of the next Trump administration for working hand-in-hand with a federal government on illegal immigration, blaming and lambasting “woke left” policy.
“We have to come together and set the state model that supports the federal model so that we get the illegal criminals out of this country. Now, what’s interesting about that, governor, is the federal regulations as they currently are — the 287(g) and the housing short term in the housing long term — are full of strings that are woke left. So, adopting, ‘Oh we’re going to support these federal legislations in their current form,’ is absolutely a nonstarter, unacceptable. The Trump administration has to immediately go from top to bottom in those regulations and get rid of that stuff,” Judd said.
“What we have to do, and our governor is setting the leadership, our Senate and our House will set the leadership and say, ‘Hey, we in Florida are going to support what the voters of this state and the other states said, and we’re going to craft policy that mandates, for those that want to ride the fence, that you actively get engaged in getting these criminals out of our community.’”
Ivey said his agency has had an inability over the last four years to substantially involve itself against illegal immigration due to federal rules.
“What we’re doing, what Gov. DeSantis is doing with his leadership, is readying the force, giving us the tools, the resources we need to work with our local, state and federal partners to get this job done,” Ivey said. “This is about getting ready for that executive order to come in for us to all work together as partners with one common goal: protecting the citizens of America, protecting the citizens of Florida and giving us the tools we need to protect our country.”
State Senator Carlos Guillermo Smith, a Democrat representing District 17, called the proposals dangerous and “half-baked.”
“We need to hit the brakes on this because here in the Florida Senate we are a deliberative body we are not rushing through politically motivated legislation that can have unintended consequences,” he said.
“It’s going to be extremely painful for us as a state, as a country, and as a society of humans to see a mass deportation force in effect.”
Democratic Rep. Anna Eskamani, who represents District 42, responded to DeSantis' proposals and the special session he called earlier this week in a statement to News 6.
“Once again, Governor Ron DeSantis is wasting taxpayer dollars and Floridians’ time to stage a political spectacle instead of solving the real issues facing our state. This special session is not about helping Floridians—it’s about grabbing national headlines and doubling down on divisive, partisan rhetoric," she said.
“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.”
Eskamani called immigrants essential to Florida’s economy, saying they contribute industries like tourism, agriculture and construction.
“Targeting these communities isn’t just cruel—it’s bad for business. Similarly, making it harder for citizens to participate in the ballot initiative process takes power away from voters and gives it to politicians like DeSantis who fear accountability," she said. “This special session is yet another waste of public money that could be used to improve the lives of Floridians. Instead of these political games, we should be working together to make Florida a place where everyone can thrive. That’s the work I’m committed to, and I won’t stop fighting for the people of our state.”
Taking questions, DeSantis responded to one asking for an update on the state’s plan for condos — specifically skyrocketing fees due to stricter inspections in the wake of the Surfside condo collapse — to urge some measure of patience and understanding amid a state House that, while accepting of ideas at statewide round tables, is “not really in a position where they think anything needs to be done.”
“My view is, is the issues that they’re facing is as a result of legislation that the legislature passed, and it was well-intended. They weren’t trying to do anything bad and obviously it was in response to a very horrific event, the Surfside Towers collapse, which was a traumatic thing for this state,” DeSantis said. “(...) However well-intentioned, that’s created problems for people. So, are we just going to sit by and let people be forced out of their units and act like that we shouldn’t do anything? I just think we have a responsibility to act. So we’ve solicited a lot of ideas, we’ve shared ideas with the legislature, I know the Florida Senate has solicited ideas. My sense is that the House is not really in a position where they think anything needs to be done, but yes, we’ve already been sharing that with the legislature because I was asked last year, ‘Why don’t you just call a special session on condos now?’ It’s like, well, we don’t have agreement and I don’t think we still have agreement, but at some point we have to take a stand, right, and do something. So I’ve heard a lot from Floridians about it, I know the members of the legislature have heard a lot and I know there’s a lot of members that want to see action on that. So let’s just be thoughtful about it.”
The condo question followed another asking for DeSantis’ reaction to Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez describing the governor’s recent call for a special session on immigration “premature.”
DeSantis said he was surprised at the letter, adding “it’s never premature to do the right thing.”
“If you drag your feet for for many months — maybe you don’t even get funding ‘til July — then how how are we making the use of the time? And, you know, President Trump’s already served a term. He’s got four years. We don’t know what’s going to happen after that. This may be our one window in the next decade, perhaps. Who knows? It’s a very unpredictable world out there. We’ve got to capitalize on every day. We can’t let time waste,” DeSantis said. “We’ve got to make the most of this opportunity for the people of Florida and so, no, it’s not premature to stand strong against illegal immigration. If anything, it’s overdue.”
The last question for DeSantis was about Sen. Marco Rubio and who would replace him as one of Florida’s two senators if he’s confirmed by the Senate as Trump’s secretary of state. Staying mum on the topic, DeSantis only said that he would expect Rubio to vacate his current position on Monday afternoon and, as far as who would replace him, the governor said to “stay tuned.”
Watch the news conference again in the video player below or by clicking here.
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