Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) chided state lawmakers over a bill it passed with the intent to combat illegal immigration, spotlighting several issues with the “grotesque” bill that he had with the legislature and its purpose.
The Tracking and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy Act, which passed in the state House but failed to pass in the Senate, would allow the state to better cooperate with federal government deportation efforts. However, it would also take immigration enforcement authority away from the governor and instead vest it in the state’s agriculture secretary. DeSantis, who has been an ally of President Donald Trump and his fight against illegal immigration, argued the bill was “written to kneecap” law enforcement from effectively combatting illegal immigration.
“If you read their legislation, their legislation uses the word ‘agriculture’ over 30 times,” DeSantis said in a Thursday press conference. “The number of times it uses the word ‘deport’? Zero. This is an immigration enforcement bill, and you’re not using that at all, but you’re using agriculture 30, 36 times? That just shows you what we’re dealing with here, so the structure of the bill is just patently ridiculous.”
Governor Ron DeSantis Holds a Roundtable in Palm Beach on the Need for Strong Immigration Enforcement Legislation https://t.co/Hwo9KQx2n8
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) January 30, 2025
DeSantis further explained that Florida has been operating under a “state of emergency” to combat illegal immigration, but this legislation “goes out of its way” to terminate this existing operation. The bill also did not originally address any penalties for transnational illegal gangs in Florida, and lawmakers “had to go back and add some stuff” to it.
The Florida governor stressed that ending the “catch and release” of illegal immigrants should be a priority with this bill, but this bill “refused” to do this.
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The governor cited the need to “take advantage” of the executive orders that Trump has issued to combat illegal immigration since returning to the White House this month. One key way to do this, he explained, is to “deputize” local and state law enforcement to carry out the same actions that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer could enact.
DeSantis has been critical of this bill on social media, hinting on X that he would veto the bill should it ever get to his desk. The governor has stressed that “strong legislation” is needed to properly fight illegal immigration within the state of Florida.