Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has outlined his strategy to address illegal immigration within the state, aligning it with initiatives President-elect Donald Trump intends to introduce once he takes office on January 20.
DeSantis, joined by Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody and several state sheriffs, outlined initiatives he plans to pursue in a special legislative session scheduled for the week beginning Jan. 27 at a news conference Wednesday.
According to NBC Miami, the governor suggested that local, county and state law enforcement agencies participate as fully as possible in cooperative efforts with the federal government to enforce immigration regulations.
โ He also proposed appointing a state immigration enforcement officer to collaborate with federal authorities.
โ Authorize local and state officials to arrest and deport undocumented immigrants.
-Implement legal repercussions at the state level for unauthorized entry into the country.
โ Intensify punishments for election-related crimes committed by people without legal immigration status.
โ Establish identity checks for international money transfers, confirming that senders are legally present in their respective countries.
The governor said he intends to seek tens of millions in funding to assist local law enforcement agencies.
He said there might be the possibility of deploying the National Guard alongside the Florida State Guard to bolster these efforts and ensure that local leaders, as he said, fulfill their responsibilities.
The governor said he has discussed with Trump various measures that the federal administration intends to implement after taking office and reiterated his commitment to synchronize Florida's initiatives with the president-elect's strategies to confront what he called an illegal immigration crisis that needs to be resolved definitively.
