Earlier today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis hosted two separate roundtable discussions with law enforcement leaders from various agencies across the state.
DeSantis also presided over the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), which has been actively involved in immigration enforcement in the state, and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division.
Accompanying Governor DeSantis were Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Executive Director Dave Kerner, and Angel Wife Nikki Jones. Sheriff Ivey and Director Kerner expressed concerns about the shortcomings of a recently passed bill aimed at providing support and authority to law enforcement agencies that are currently engaged and equipped to enforce immigration laws in Florida.
“The bill the Florida Legislature passed last night fails to honor our promises to voters, fails to meet the moment, and would actually weaken state immigration enforcement,” DeSantis said. “We must have the strongest law in the nation on immigration enforcement that will guarantee state and local deportation assistance, end catch and release, eliminate magnets such as remittances, and adopt supporting policies that will protect Floridians.”
DeSantis’ forums coincided with FHP and the Florida Division of Law Enforcement’s announcements of dozens of arrests of illegal immigrants across the state, including dozens of Chinese nationals in Coral Gables.
