
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vows to veto the TRUMP Act, setting up a clash with fellow Republicans over immigration policy.
At a Glance
- DeSantis promises to veto the TRUMP Act, calling it “weak” on immigration enforcement
- The act, approved by state lawmakers, allocates over $500 million for local immigration enforcement
- DeSantis criticizes fellow Republicans as “RINOs” for supporting the bill
- The governor claims the act weakens measures to detain and deport illegal immigrants
- The situation marks a power struggle between DeSantis and new Republican legislative leaders
DeSantis Takes Stand Against TRUMP Act
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has promised to veto the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act, setting the stage for a significant intra-party dispute with state Republicans. The governor’s stance against the bill, which was passed by the legislature after input from former President Donald Trump, has sparked a heated debate on immigration policy in the Sunshine State.
DeSantis has been vocal in his criticism of the act, labeling it as “weaksauce” and insufficient in addressing Florida’s immigration needs. The governor’s position highlights a growing rift between his administration and the Republican-controlled legislature, particularly new House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton.
Contents of the Controversial Bill
The TRUMP Act, despite its name, has drawn fire from DeSantis for allegedly compromising robust immigration law enforcement. The bill would allocate over $500 million for local immigration enforcement, increase penalties for unauthorized immigrants, and create a new state office for enforcement coordination. However, DeSantis argues that these measures fall short of the stringent policies needed to combat illegal immigration effectively.
“The reality is we are not going to accept weak policies,” the Governor said. “We don’t have time for weakness. We don’t have time for half-baked measures. We’ve got to be strong. We’ve got to lead the way when it comes to immigration enforcement,” he added.
One of the most contentious aspects of the bill is the designation of Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture as the Chief Immigration Officer. This is viewed by DeSantis as an attempt to transfer immigration enforcement authority away from the Governor’s office, potentially weakening his administration’s ability to implement strict immigration policies.
DeSantis vs. “RINOs”
The Governor has not minced words in his criticism of the Republicans supporting the TRUMP Act. DeSantis has labeled these lawmakers as “RINOs” (Republicans In Name Only), accusing them of misleading the public and working against Trump’s immigration agenda despite using his name for the bill.
“They’re playing this game where they think if they put Trump’s name on a weak bill that somehow people will think it’s going to be good, and it’s totally inadequate,” DeSantis said.
The Governor claims that the bill would allow non-citizens to register to vote in Florida without signing an affidavit, which he argues violates the state constitution. He also contends that the act weakens measures to detain and deport illegal immigrants charged with crimes, contradicting his administration’s tough stance on immigration enforcement.