DeSantis Vows to Veto Florida Legislature's Immigration Bill As Clash With Local GOP Leaders Escalates

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vowed to veto an immigration bill passed by the Florida Legislature on Tuesday, escalating an ongoing dispute with Republican leaders in the state.

The bill would allocate over $500 million for immigration enforcement and transfer authority over these efforts from the governor's office to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a measure DeSantis has criticized as "weak." He has also accused lawmakers of betraying conservative principles.

The bill, formally titled the "Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act," was championed by House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton, as reported by local news site The Orlando Weekly. It includes provisions to enhance penalties for undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes, eliminate in-state tuition for undocumented students, and establish a chief immigration officer under Simpson's department.

Bill sponsor Joe Gruters, a close Trump ally, said he spoke directly with the president and worked with the Trump administration to craft the legislation that would help carry out the president's immigration crackdown. "This is the strongest bill that's ever been passed anywhere in the country," said Gruters, adding that it "gives the president all the tools he needs in support of his executive orders and what he's trying to do."

Despite its hardline stance, DeSantis dismissed the bill as insufficient, accusing legislators of moving to the left on immigration. "The bill that narrowly passed the Florida legislature last night fails to honor our promises to voters, fails to meet the moment, and would actually weaken state immigration enforcement," said DeSantis through a post on X, adding defiantly that "the veto pen is ready":

The clash marks a rare challenge to DeSantis' authority by fellow Florida Republicans, many of whom have aligned themselves more closely with Trump following DeSantis' failed presidential bid. The governor's opposition to the bill has drawn criticism from legislative leaders, including Perez, who accused him of using threats instead of leadership. "Threatening others to get your way isn't leadership. It's immaturity," Perez said on the House floor on Tuesday.

The most contentious part of the bills is the legislature's aforementioned decision to strip DeSantis of control over the state's migrant relocation program, which has been widely scrutinized. Lawmakers transferred oversight to the Agriculture Commissioner after questions arose over the program's transparency and spending.

The bill has yet to be formally sent to DeSantis. who is set to veto it. Should the legislature attempt to override his decision, the outcome remains uncertain, as some Republicans have already signaled doubts about their votes.