Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced on Wednesday that he will veto an immigration bill backed by Republican leaders in the state legislature. The bill, which allocates $500 million to strengthen coordination between local and federal law enforcement, has sparked a clash between the governor and lawmakers from his own party. Ron DeSantis criticized the proposal as “weak” and “watered down,” insisting that Florida must have “the strongest immigration law in the nation.”
Disagreement among Republicans over immigration control
The bill, promoted by House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, seeks to increase criminal penalties for undocumented migrants who commit crimes in the United States. However, Ron DeSantis has expressed dissatisfaction with the measure, arguing that it gives too much control to the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Wilton Simpson, instead of keeping oversight in the governor’s hands. DeSantis likened this decision to putting “the fox in charge of the henhouse.”
After the bill passed on Tuesday night, Ron DeSantis promised to veto it, stating on social media platform X: “The veto pen is ready.” Now, the question is whether Republican lawmakers can gather enough support to override the governor’s veto, which seems unlikely given that some party members already voted against the measure.
Emotional debates and democratic criticisms
During hours of debate, Democrats questioned a provision in the bill that would eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students. Some Democratic legislators indicated they could support the proposal if this provision were changed. Senator Shevrin Jones stated: “If the bitter pill weren’t here, I’m almost sure we would have gotten a unanimous vote.”
Ron DeSantis has openly criticized the legislation since its announcement, calling it insufficient to address the immigration crisis. Republican leaders, meanwhile, defended the bill, arguing that they worked with the Donald Trump administration to align the measure, known as the TRUMP Act, with the federal agenda. However, they rejected including some of DeSantis’ priorities, such as establishing a legal presumption that undocumented individuals are a flight risk.
The bill, which spans over 80 pages, includes funding to hire new agents, equip local agencies, and reimburse counties for renting detention space to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Despite its scope, Ron DeSantis insists the proposal is not robust enough.
Uncertain future for the Bill
Following the bill’s passage, Daniel Perez urged lawmakers not to be distracted by social media criticism, stating: “Threatening others to get what you want is not leadership, it’s immaturity.” However, the future of the measure remains uncertain, as Ron DeSantis stands firm in his veto stance.
Meanwhile, Democrats continue to express concerns over provisions they consider cruel, such as the reduction of in-state tuition rates for undocumented students. They have also pushed to protect schools and places of worship from potential raids, in response to the bill’s requirement that government employees cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
In this tense political scenario, Ron DeSantis reiterates his commitment to a tougher immigration policy, while Republican lawmakers seek to advance their agenda without the governor’s full support.
