Governor Ron DeSantis has expressed strong disapproval of the Florida Legislature’s recent actions concerning immigration enforcement. He accused legislative leaders of undermining efforts to implement President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda by proposing a bill he deems insufficiently robust.
DeSantis highlighted that, although the Legislature’s bill incorporates some of his proposals—such as eliminating tuition waivers for undocumented students—it lacks enforceable mandates for state and local law enforcement to cooperate fully with federal immigration authorities. He emphasized that this omission could result in local jurisdictions providing minimal assistance in federal immigration enforcement.
A significant point of contention is the bill’s delegation of enforcement authority to the Department of Agriculture, an agency not traditionally involved in law enforcement. DeSantis argued that this move is akin to “putting the fox in charge of the hen house,” given that the agricultural sector often opposes strict immigration enforcement.
The Governor described the Legislature’s bill as a “bait-and-switch tactic” that creates the illusion of a crackdown on illegal immigration without substantive action. He also criticized the decision to name the bill after President Trump, stating that it is an insult to associate such a weak measure with a president known for his strong stance on immigration.
This dispute underscores emerging tensions within Florida’s Republican leadership regarding the state’s role in supporting federal immigration policies. The outcome of this disagreement could significantly influence Florida’s approach to immigration enforcement moving forward.
Here is the rundown of the differences between a strong immigration response (our proposals) and the watered-down smoke-and-mirrors bill (championed by FL legislative leaders): pic.twitter.com/GZpWq7OM6b
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 28, 2025