Florida’s GOP governor is making good on his pledge to push back on the Biden administration’s efforts to resettle planeloads of illegal migrants in the Sunshine State.
Ron DeSantis that he is asking the Florida legislature for millions of dollars to deport illegal aliens from the state.
“In yesterday’s budget, I put in $8 million for us to be able to transport people here illegally out of the state of Florida,” DeSantis said.
“It’s somewhat tongue in cheek, but it is true, if you sent them to Delaware or Martha’s Vineyard or some of these places, that border would be secure the next day,” DeSantis added.
The governor and prospective 2024 GOP presidential contender blasted Democratic President Joe Biden last month over the worsening border and migrant crisis, the result of which has been an explosion of people illegally entering the country.
He said then he was considering bussing migrants deposited in his state to Biden’s home state of Delaware.
The Miami Herald reported:
The proposed program, which the governor wants to pay for with interest accrued from federal funds, and a “series” of incoming legislative bills that he says will fight “back against the Biden border crisis” are the latest battle lines drawn by a governor who appears to be drumming up a potential challenge against President Joe Biden in 2024.
“One of the priorities that we’ve been working on for many months now, and we’ll continue to work with the legislature when they get back is dealing with the fallout from the reckless border policies of the Biden administration,” DeSantis said.
“We have a responsibility to stand up for the rule of law, we have a responsibility to the Constitution, and we have a responsibility to stand up against an administration that has decided they don’t want to have a secure border,” he added.
His office noted that the proposal:
- Prohibits all state and local agencies from doing business with or providing benefits to any private entities that knowingly or recklessly facilitate the resettlement of illegal aliens in the State of Florida.
- Bars state agencies from entering or renewing contracts with carriers that are knowingly transporting illegal aliens into the State of Florida.
- Requires private entities that knowingly or recklessly facilitate illegal immigration into Florida to provide compensation to the state for the costs of illegal immigration that fall on the public.
- Requires county jails and courts to collect immigration status information at time of arrest and conviction. Information must be reported to FDLE and published on its website.
- Strengthens E-verify enforcement by adding the Department of Economic Opportunity as an enforcing agency.
- The State of Florida will not provide any discretionary benefits to illegal aliens. All agencies will be required to confirm eligibility for benefits. ACHA, DCF, DOH, Medicaid plans, and hospitals must report and publish expenditures for illegal aliens.
He went on to announce that the Florida Department of Children and Families has posted a new emergency rule that “will prohibit the issuance or renewal of any license to provide services to unaccompanied alien minors who seek to be resettled in Florida unless there is a cooperative agreement between the state and federal government.”
In addition, the rule “requires existing licensees to conduct regular welfare checks to ensure the safety of alien children already in the state.”