Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday outlined his detailed proposals to help President-elect Donald Trump tackle illegal immigration.
During a press conference, DeSantis said that he expects the state legislature to approve his proposals when it convenes its special session later this month.
“We need to do this swiftly and we need to do this overwhelmingly,” DeSantis said.
According to DeSantis, the state will lead on Trump’s mandate to enforce the nation’s immigration laws and deport illegal immigrants.
“We have to come in right on the heels of the new president getting sworn into office and we need to enact strong policies that are going to help this administration accomplish the mission that the American people spoke loudly and clearly about in November.”
Joined by Attorney General Ashley Moody, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the governor outlined the following eight proposals in his plan:
Law Enforcement Compliance: DeSantis’ proposal requires that city, county, and state law enforcement officers have “maximum participation” in any program to assist the federal government in enforcing federal immigration laws.
Criminal Penalties for Illegal Entries: The governor wants to impose criminal penalties under state law for illegal entries.
“We should do this so we have an ability to hold them accountable,” DeSantis said, noting that illegal entry alone should suffice for deportation.
State Immigration Enforcement Officer: DeSantis proposed the appointment of a state immigration enforcement officer to coordinate with federal authorities. This person would be dedicated to overseeing the coordination with federal authorities.
Unauthorized State Transport Program: The governor said that he wants to expand this program to be able to detain and facilitate the deportation of illegal immigrants from the United States.
Gang Enforcement: The governor wants to broaden the legal definition of “gang-related activities” so that it includes illegal immigrants. DeSantis used the example of Venezuelan gangs to highlight the importance of expanding the legal definition.
Educational and Voting Reforms: Education and voting reform must take place to discourage illegal immigrants. The governor said tightening voter registration laws will ensure that only Florida citizens can legally vote.
Remittance and Financial Oversight: DeSantis wants to mandate identity verification for foreign remittances.
“What happens is, is people will come illegally because they can work more menial tasks but make a lot more money in the U.S. than they can in a third world country. So they’ll come, make money, and then they send money back in remittances to their families, friends, wherever to their home country.”
This will be a “huge deterrence,” the governor claimed, noting that the money transfer company has to make sure the person is lawfully here before money can be sent to their home country.
Bail and Flight Risk Presumptions: The governor wants to create a “rebuttable presumption” that illegal immigrants are flight risks and denied bail when they are brought up on charges.
Earlier this week, DeSantis called for a special session to implement Trump’s immigration policies. State lawmakers will gather for that special session on Jan. 27.