The Florida Legislature convened Monday in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ call for a special session but limited the agenda to a single immigration-related bill, disregarding DeSantis’ broader proposals. Lawmakers rejected measures on condominium regulations, electoral security, and ballot initiative reforms, leading to sharp criticism from the governor.
DeSantis dismissed the Legislature’s efforts as “antics” in a social media video, claiming the proposed immigration bill, the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy Act (House Bill 1B/Senate Bill 2B), lacks meaningful enforcement mechanisms. Legislative leaders, however, defended the bill, emphasizing its intent to strengthen Florida’s cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in addressing illegal immigration.
The proposed legislation, sponsored by Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Dover) and Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), seeks to:
- Expand existing requirements for county sheriffs operating detention facilities to enter into agreements with ICE, extending the mandate to non-sheriff-operated jails.
- Designate Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson as Florida’s chief immigration officer, serving as a liaison between federal, state, and local officials.
- Allocate $500 million to assist state and local law enforcement in deportation efforts under President Trump’s administration.
- End in-state tuition benefits for individuals living in the country illegally.
House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton defended the legislation, calling DeSantis’ criticism a “blatant lie” that undermines law enforcement’s role in immigration enforcement. “The fact is that the TRUMP Act is an expansion of existing requirements,” they said, emphasizing law enforcement’s integral role in protecting communities.
DeSantis argued the bill undermines his more robust proposals and criticized the Legislature for delegating immigration enforcement to the Department of Agriculture, which he contends lacks the authority to oversee such efforts. Calling the arrangement a misstep, DeSantis said, “It ensures that enforcement never actually occurs. In short, it puts the fox in charge of the hen house.”
The governor also noted the absence of criminal penalties for local officials who fail to comply with federal immigration mandates, which had been a key part of his proposal.
The Legislature is set to debate and potentially vote on the bill by Tuesday, with the session expected to adjourn afterward. The outcome will test the dynamics between DeSantis and the Republican-controlled Legislature, highlighting ongoing tensions over how best to address illegal immigration in Florida.