Florida’s Tallahasee, Florida We are here to help, Governor Ron DeSantis is making plain to the incoming Trump administration.
DeSantis requested a special session of his state’s legislature on Monday in part to adopt a comprehensive immigration measure that will be drafted to comply with early action anticipated through an executive order from Donald Trump soon after he assumes office on January 20.
DeSantis claimed that he has directly discussed the policy ideas with the president-elect and that he and his staff have been informed on some of the initial recommendations that are probably going to be part of the executive orders that Trump would issue soon after taking office that deal with immigration.
One week after Trump’s official inauguration, DeSantis has scheduled his state’s special session for the week of January 27. It gives them time to create policy amendments that support the immigration policies of the Trump administration.
DeSantis informed reporters that we would modify our actions to reflect their planned policies.
For the first day of his presidency, Trump’s transition team has been drafting a number of executive orders. Although a wide range of topics are anticipated to be covered, immigration—one of his main campaign issues in 2024—will almost surely receive a lot of attention.
A Trump campaign official told NBC News in November that it will be unlike anything you have ever seen.
Trump has publicly concentrated on the idea of mass deportations and abolishing birthright citizenship, but he has not yet specified the precise changes he will seek by executive order—many of which are likely to be challenged in court.
Generally speaking, DeSantis refrained from going into depth about the kind of information his staff has received from the new administration. He did, however, state that he expects Trump to broaden the so-called 287(g) program, which permits U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to provide local officials the ability to carry out some tasks that are typically performed by federal immigration officials.
“I believe that the Trump administration will implement 287(g) in a more comprehensive manner than we have likely seen,” DeSantis stated. That will be beneficial. Something that, in my opinion, will have a significant impact.
DeSantis believes that Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature would utilize his special session to make the program mandatory, even though state and local governments can now choose to participate. Trump’s executive directives would be issued before any final linguistic decisions are made.
“We will state that municipalities and sheriffs will be included in 287(g),” he said.
DeSantis stated that he wants lawmakers to concentrate on enhancing the capacity to penalize local officials who violate federal immigration law, increasing the capacity of local law enforcement to enforce immigration policy, and eliminating any remaining incentives for undocumented immigrants to enter and remain in Florida. The Florida Legislature, which would be in charge of drafting any specific legislation, has not yet submitted any proposals.
DeSantis especially criticized a 2014 law that grants undocumented immigrants in-state tuition rates. Rick Scott, the state’s governor at the time and now a Republican senator, signed the bill into law, and DeSantis’ own lieutenant governor, Jeanette M. Nuez, supported it.
“That is a benefit you are rewarding someone for being here illegally,” he remarked, referring to in-state tuition.
Recent attempts by Florida Republicans to repeal the program have been rejected by the legislature.
Trump has appointed Rep. Mike Waltz as his national security adviser, and Rep. Randy Fine, a Trump-endorsed candidate seeking to succeed him, announced that he will once more submit legislation for the special session that would eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students, which costs the state $45 million a year.
Ending the $45 million in handouts for illegal immigrants who attend our world-renowned colleges and universities is something that both Governor DeSantis and I have wanted to do for years, despite our disagreements,” said Fine, who supported Trump over DeSantis in the 2024 Republican presidential primary.
DeSantis’s request for a comprehensive immigration measure was supported by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody, who is thought to be the front-runner to fill the Senate vacancy left by Marco Rubio, who is being nominated to be Trump’s Secretary of State.
On DAY ONE, shepostedon X, we appreciate @GovRonDeSantis making sure the state is ready to implement @RealDonaldTrump’s immigration goals.
DeSantis has yet to publicly announce his choice to succeed Rubio, which must be done before Trump takes office on January 20. However, he has stated that the candidate will be a hardliner when it comes to reforming the so-called H-1B visa program, which has become a contentious issue among Trump supporters since his election victory.
While the more populist, anti-immigration segment of Trump’s base, led by individuals like conservative pundits Steve Bannon and Laura Loomer, stated they want the program eliminated, prominent supporters like billionaire tech tycoon Elon Musk have stated they support the program, which provides many businesses with access to lower-cost foreign talent.
Following weeks of internal disputes among MAGA supporters, Trump declared in late December that he thought the program was excellent.