Gov. DeSantis holds roundtable in Fort Myers

Reporter: Claire Galt Writer: Nicholas Karsen
Published: Updated:
Gov. DeSantis
Gov. DeSantis holds roundtable in Fort Myers. CREDIT: WINK News
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      Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable discussion in Fort Myers Wednesday afternoon at Florida Gulf Coast University.

      Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Director Dave Kerner joined DeSantis.

      DeSantis explained why he believes the Florida Legislature’s Immigration Bill is weaker than his proposed legislation after he called a special session earlier this week.

      DeSantis called the coordination between state and local agencies with the federal government vital for immigration enforcement efforts.

      However, the legislature said the commissioner of agriculture should run immigration enforcement.

      “They transfer responsibility for immigration enforcement away from the governor to the commissioner of agriculture. Is there anybody who voted for that?” said DeSantis.

      On X, DeSantis posted a flyer highlighting the stark differences between his immigration bill and the revised bill from the Florida Legislature, which the governor calls the “bait and switch.”

      State lawmakers call their bill, which they dubbed the Trump Act, the stronger of the two proposals.

      DeSantis said on social media that his veto pen is ready for the Trump Act to reach his desk.

      When WINK News anchor Claire Galt asked if he will call lawmakers back for a second special session, the answer was vague.

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          “Are you going to veto this, then call the legislature back to a special session?” Galt asked.

          DeSantis responded, “So, I have said I am vetoing their legislation. How could I possibly sign something that is contrary to everything I’ve campaigned on, that’s contrary to what President Trump campaigned on? I spoke with the president a number of times throughout the weeks, including the other day, and he just said, ‘You just got to be strong.’ [He] said you can’t be weak. Just be strong, and I think my position has been much stronger than the legislature. I think the fact that they did a weak bill and put his name on it was an insult to him.”

          “So, will you call a special session?” Galt asked.

          “We’re going to get this done. I’m not just going to sit around and just wait, but I also want to because I can call it, but I also think that sometimes when these guys are in Tallahassee, they’re in some bubble, right? The leadership is telling them, ‘Oh, this is great. It’s great. It’s great,’ and they’re kind of like, OK, I want the members to go back to their communities, and I want you guys to talk to your representatives and tell them what you think.”

          “Does this division change the way that you have to govern or do things moving forward? Does it make it harder to get stuff done?” Galt asked.

          “This is about what is best for Florida. What’s the policy that’s going to be best for Florida? So, to the extent there’s division, is because you have elected officials that are not following through with what they promised voters and are, quite frankly, making it more difficult for President Trump to fulfill the mandate he has to enforce immigration laws, secure the border and conduct this major deportation effort.”

          That’s according to the governor. The Florida Senate president and House speaker said insight from the White House helped shape the Trump Act.

          They said it is in line with the president’s agenda. DeSantis said the bill would reverse the state’s progress and take immigration enforcement power away from him, giving it to the agriculture secretary.

          Some of DeSantis’ immigration proposals include compliance with law enforcement, criminal penalty for illegal entry, bail and flight risk presumptions, educational and voting reforms and assigning a state immigration enforcement officer.

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