Inside DeSantis' immigration feud with Florida lawmakers
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Gov. Ron DeSantis is in a standoff with Florida's legislative leaders that has devolved into a test of his power and influence over the state.
- At issue: a slate of immigration reforms that lawmakers named after President Trump and approved in place of DeSantis' own proposals.
Why it matters: The GOP-controlled Legislature has left DeSantis' red meat recommendations on the table before — but bucking his priorities in favor of their own struck a nerve.
The big picture: The bill lawmakers approved this week — which DeSantis described as "weak, weak, weak" — goes far beyond bills the Legislature passed and the governor signed in years past.
- It requires that undocumented immigrants who commit capital crimes face the death penalty, offers bonuses to entice police to enforce federal immigration law, and repeals in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.
Friction point: Who would oversee immigration enforcement in Florida has emerged as a key divide between DeSantis and the Legislature.
- DeSantis has called for a new Office of Secure Florida to enforce E-Verify as part of the state Department of Commerce, which is under his purview.
- He would also appoint a state immigration enforcement officer to coordinate with the federal government on immigration enforcement and to oversee his migrant relocation program.
- The Legislature's bill would create an Office of State Immigration Enforcement under Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.
Both proposals would bolster law enforcement cooperation with federal agencies, ban policies that restrict compliance with immigration detainers, and enhance sentences for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
Yes, but: DeSantis' bill would be a much harsher crackdown. It would mandate that financial institutions verify a sender's immigration status for foreign remittances and would impose penalties on companies that don't comply.
- It would allow victims of crimes committed by undocumented immigrants to sue and recover damages from anyone who helped the perpetrator enter Florida.
- It also would create a presumption that undocumented immigrants are flight risks that could be applied to deny them bail.
The latest: DeSantis has crisscrossed the state as he and his allies have unleashed an avalanche of criticism, including against Simpson, who the governor said would be a "fox guarding the henhouse."
- In response, Simpson accused DeSantis of attacking Florida farmers and took a dig at the governor's failed presidential bid: "I'm not the one who opposed and ran against President Trump."