Yesterday afternoon, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a roundtable conference in The Water School. He spoke about the need for strong immigration enforcement legislation. 

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Special Agent in Charge John A. Condon of Homeland Security Investigation, Alvin Vincent of Enforcement and Removal Operations and the Executive Director Highway Safety Patrol and Motor Vehicles Dave Kerner were also there. 

A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Department of Homeland Security and Southwest Florida Highway Patrol. DeSantis said it would empower state and local officials with the authority to exercise immigration power. 

“We’re going to have a memorandum where our state officials here down in Southwest Florida with highway patrol are going to be vested in the authorities of immigration officers. That’s going to make it so much more effective,” DeSantis said. 

DeSantis said local governments need to get involved and help the Trump Administration. 

“I know the president wants to do that, but you are not going to fulfill the mandate of having the largest deportation operation in history unless local and state governments are in the fight helping our federal partners get the job done,” DeSantis said. 

DeSantis emphasized that the states don’t have to help the federal government with immigration, but Florida is participating. 

“We’re doing it because we think it’s important. And so I knew, and I knew that we could direct the state agencies to partners, and to get it done,” DeSantis said.  

DeSantis said illegal immigration permeates everything everyone does. 

“It affects the schools, it affects health care, it affects safety on the roads, it affects crime, it affects so many different things that we need all hands on deck,” DeSantis said. “So I said, ‘OK, what do we need to do to make sure Florida is leading the way yet again and being a strong partner with the new administration?’ And here’s the thing, if Florida does it, other states will follow.”