DeSantis softens tone in immigration clash with GOP lawmakers


Gov. Ron DeSantis and Republican legislative leaders are at odds over an immigration enforcement plan. 

'I think we'll land the plane'

What we know:

The Florida Legislature rejected DeSantis’ proposal and instead passed a bill giving Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson oversight of $500 million in immigration enforcement funds. DeSantis criticized the bill as "weak" and vowed to veto it.

What we don't know:

 It remains unclear whether DeSantis will follow through on his veto threat or if legislative leaders will adjust their proposal to secure his approval. And, the broader political implications of this rift among Florida Republicans — particularly in relation to former President Donald Trump — are still unfolding.

The backstory:

The dispute between Gov. DeSantis and Republican lawmakers, who have largely supported his agenda since his election in 2018, is relatively new. 

The Republican-controlled Legislature during a special session last week snubbed a plan floated by DeSantis and instead approved a measure that would make Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson the state’s immigration czar. The legislation (SB 2-B) would give Simpson’s office oversight of nearly $500 million in grants to state and local law-enforcement agencies to assist with the Trump administration’s illegal-immigration efforts.

DeSantis made the rounds on national radio and television to excoriate the legislative leaders’ proposal, calling it "weak" and a "pro-amnesty" bill. The governor and his allies also unleashed attacks on social media, as DeSantis threatened to back GOP candidates in next year’s legislative and gubernatorial primary races. DeSantis focused his critique on the part of the plan that would establish Simpson — a potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate who is close to Trump — as the state’s chief immigration officer.

The governor also said he would veto the bill, though the Legislature had not formally sent it to him as of Monday afternoon. But as DeSantis held a news conference Monday to announce his proposed budget, he tamped down the dispute.

DeSantis’ proposed budget would direct $505 million to the state Division of Emergency Management for immigration enforcement and earmark another $4.4 million to set up a "special immigration unit" within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission "to immediately assist the federal administration’s enforcement of illegal immigration."

This battle reflects a larger national debate over immigration enforcement and the role state governments should play in federal policies. 

Timeline:

The Legislature passed its immigration bill last week during a special session. DeSantis spent the week attacking the measure before striking a more conciliatory tone Monday while unveiling his budget. Lawmakers begin crafting the final budget during the legislative session starting March 4.

What they're saying:

DeSantis held a news conference Monday to announce his proposed budget, and he tamped down the dispute with lawmakers over the immigration issue. 

"We've had great discussions. I think we'll land the plane," DeSantis said.

He also credited the Legislature for partnering with him and delivering on his agenda for the past six years.

"While I am the most well-known of all the folks up here, the reality is that the Legislature has had a huge role to play in that," the governor said. "And I just think it wouldn't be within their character of their more recent actions to not aggressively address illegal immigration, given the historic moment."

House Speaker Daniel PerezR-Miami, has taken aim at a proposal pushed by DeSantis that would allow the governor to transport undocumented immigrants from Florida to their home countries.

"The governor wants to be able to appoint the immigration czar, that’s how he quotes it. He wants to appoint some bureaucrat inside his office — not elected by the people — so he has all the power," Perez said. "That's what this is about. This is about Ron DeSantis wanting to be the deporter-in-chief, and the Legislature wanting that to be President Trump. We've solved for this problem through the eyes of President Trump. DeSantis wants everything for himself. That's what's happening here."

What's next:

DeSantis could still veto immigration legislation. Meanwhile, lawmakers will hammer out the state budget during the regular legislative session in March.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the News Service of Florida. 

Florida PoliticsRon DeSantisImmigration