Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced Monday that he will call a special session of the state Legislature aimed at helping President-elect Donald Trump implement his immigration policies.
“I intend to call Congress into special session beginning the week of January 27,” DeSantis said at a news conference. press conference At the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee. “The president-elect is scheduled to take office on January 20th, and we expect executive orders to be issued immediately after the oath of office and inaugural address.”
“It's going to take some time to process and make sure we do what needs to be done, but then we need to act, and we need to act quickly,” the governor added.
DeSantis said he expected a “major shift in policy, especially on the border,” shortly after President Trump, 78, takes the oath of office. He added that Florida is “ready, willing and able” to help the next president “advance these policies.”
The governor, who met with President Trump last week at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Palm Beach, Florida, said the president-elect plans to “give some powers to state and local governments” to combat illegal immigration. .
“We have a responsibility to be part of this fight,” DeSantis insisted.
“Florida state and local officials must assist the Trump administration in enforcing our nation's immigration laws,” he continued. “To do that effectively, we will need legislation that imposes additional duties on local officials and provides funding for local officials.”
“We also need to take steps to hold those who violate anti-sanctuary policies accountable, and Florida needs to ensure there are no lingering incentives for people to come to the state illegally,” Sunshine State leaders added. Ta.
DeSantis threatened to suspend employees if they were found to be “neglecting their duties.”
The governor said he expects the Legislature to allocate tens of millions of dollars in new spending to expand the state's immigration enforcement and detention efforts. He also said he would consider activating the Florida National Guard and the Florida National Guard to assist President Trump in enforcing federal immigration laws.
DeSantis' call for a special legislative session to support Trump ahead of his inauguration stands in stark contrast to how some Democratic governors have been preparing for the incoming 47th president's term.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom called an emergency legislative session last month and asked state lawmakers for $25 million to fund the Golden State's expected lawsuit against Trump.
“We look forward to working with the incoming administration and wishing President Trump success in serving all Americans. But when there is overreach, when lives are threatened and rights and freedoms are targeted, We will take action,” Newsom said in a December statement.
“And that's exactly what this special session is about: setting this state up for success regardless of who is in the White House,” he added.
The Newsom administration is also developing a plan to help undocumented immigrants avoid deportation after Trump takes office.
The Newsom administration's proposal calls for “creating an immigrant assistance network” to connect undocumented immigrants with legal service providers and other organizations if they face deportation.
President Trump has promised to carry out the largest deportation in U.S. history upon taking office.
