Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) called for a state-level liaison to work with the federal government to implement President-elect Trump’s immigration agenda.
“We are going to be appointing a state immigration officer that will be dedicated to overseeing the coordination with federal authorities and Florida’s existing program,” DeSantis told reporters at a press conference in Winter Haven, Fla., referring to the state’s past efforts to fly migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in 2022.
Additionally, the governor called for local and state law officers to have “maximum participation” in enforcing federal laws and said he believed the federal government would “bless” state and local officials being empowered to detain and deport individuals in the state illegally.
DeSantis also called for better gang enforcement, reforms to education and voting, and requiring voter registration affirmation of U.S. citizenship and Florida residency.
The governor said he has been in contact with Trump and his transition team over his plans for the special session. DeSantis also expressed his desire for Florida to become an example for other states in enforcing Trump’s immigration agenda.
“We have a new sheriff coming in town, nationally,” DeSantis told reporters. “As Florida leads working with the feds, other states will follow suit, and we will create a healthy competition to get things done.”
The plan’s announcement comes after Trump and DeSantis met over a round of golf at the president-elect’s golf course in West Palm Beach on Tuesday.
Earlier this week, DeSantis called for a special legislative session to convene on Jan. 27. Trump publicly thanked DeSantis for the move in a post on Truth Social, but the governor received some pushback from Republican leaders in the state legislature.
State Senate President Ben Albritton (R) and state House Speaker Daniel Perez (R) called the move “premature” in a letter to the state’s lawmakers.
“Don’t say you’ll get around to it in a few months,” DeSantis said on Wednesday. “We need action and we need it now.”
