Florida Times

Florida: Driving America's New Greatness.
Sunday, Jul 20, 2025

Governor DeSantis Seeks Expanded Powers to Transport Migrants Beyond U.S. Borders

Governor DeSantis Seeks Expanded Powers to Transport Migrants Beyond U.S. Borders

Proposals include enhanced state control over immigration enforcement and criminal penalties for non-compliance with federal directives.
Governor Ron DeSantis has proposed a sweeping set of immigration enforcement measures aimed at bolstering Florida’s role in addressing unauthorized immigration.

Central to these proposals is a request for legislative approval to transport migrants residing in the country illegally to locations outside the United States.

This initiative represents a significant expansion of Florida’s previous migrant relocation efforts.

Expansion of Migrant Relocation Program
The centerpiece of Governor DeSantis’s proposal is a restructuring of Florida’s Unauthorized Alien Transport Program.

The revised program would allow the state to relocate migrants beyond U.S. borders.

This builds on earlier efforts, such as the 2022 relocation of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, which sparked national attention and legal challenges.

In February 2023, Florida legislators addressed these legal challenges by amending the program to allow the transport of migrants from anywhere in the U.S., not just within Florida.

Governor DeSantis’s current proposal takes this a step further, explicitly seeking authority to facilitate international relocations.

Criminal Penalties for Non-Compliance
The proposed measures include criminal penalties for local law enforcement officers and elected officials who fail to fully comply with state and federal immigration directives.

The plan calls for:

First-degree misdemeanors for law enforcement officers who do not comply.

Third-degree felonies for elected officials who refuse to participate in mandated federal immigration enforcement actions.

These penalties aim to ensure uniform enforcement of immigration laws across Florida and deter any resistance to state directives.

Enhanced State Involvement in Federal Immigration Efforts
Governor DeSantis has also proposed that:

At least 10% of state and local law enforcement personnel be trained and equipped to assist federal immigration authorities.

The Florida National Guard and Florida State Guard, under the governor’s command, support federal immigration enforcement in coordination with a state-appointed immigration officer.

These measures reflect a broader push for Florida to play an active role in federal immigration enforcement under the anticipated policies of President-elect Donald Trump.

Broader Proposals to Strengthen Immigration Enforcement
Additional proposals from Governor DeSantis include:

Mandating businesses to verify the identity of individuals transferring funds abroad and reporting such verifications to the state.

Denying bail to migrants residing in the country illegally who are deemed flight risks.

Empowering the governor to suspend officials who do not comply with the federal 287(g) program, which allows local authorities to identify and detain unauthorized immigrants in county jails.

Legislative Response and Political Context
The proposals, sent to legislative staff for the Florida House and Senate, are set to be discussed in a special legislative session on January 27. While some Republican lawmakers have expressed reservations about the timing, citing the need for alignment with federal initiatives, DeSantis has emphasized the urgency of state action.

National and Regional Implications
Governor DeSantis’s proposals come as states prepare for potential changes in federal immigration policy under the new administration.

Florida’s aggressive stance contrasts sharply with states like California, where leadership has vowed to oppose stricter federal enforcement measures and protect immigrant communities.

The proposed measures could position Florida as a leader in state-driven immigration enforcement, serving as a model—or a point of contention—for other states navigating the balance between federal directives and local governance.

A DeSantis-Led Approach to Immigration Policy
Governor DeSantis’s proposals align with his broader vision of strengthening state authority and ensuring compliance with immigration laws.

The measures underscore his commitment to prioritizing border security and law enforcement while supporting federal efforts to address unauthorized immigration.

The legislative session will reveal how Florida’s lawmakers respond to these bold initiatives, which have significant implications for state and national immigration policy.
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
Tulsi Gabbard Unveils Evidence Alleging Political Manipulation of Intelligence During Trump Administration
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Federal Reserve Renovation Draws Political Scrutiny Amid Trump's Renewed Criticism of Powell
Trump Announces Coca-Cola to Shift to Cane Sugar in U.S. Production
US-China Chip War Intensifies Over Export Curbs
Donald Trump Jr. Remains Supportive of Elon Musk Post-Feud
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
FAA Says It’s Not Considering Starlink for Aviation Contracts
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
House GOP Blocks Second Democratic Bid to Release Epstein Documents
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Provocative Times Square Billboard Urges New Yorkers to ‘Move to Ohio’ Over Mamdani
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Martha Wells Says Humanity Still Far from True Artificial Intelligence
Nvidia Becomes World’s First Four‑Trillion‑Dollar Company Amid AI Boom
U.S. Resumes Deportations to Third Countries After Supreme Court Ruling
Lawmakers Report Overcrowded Conditions at Florida's 'Alligator Alcatraz' Detention Facility
Iranian President Reportedly Injured During Israeli Strike on Secret Facility
Trump Defends Attorney General Pam Bondi Amid Epstein Memo Backlash
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
First Migrants Arrive at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Facility
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
Trump Allies Warn Musk’s America Party Could Divide Republicans
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Texas Floods Claim 43 Lives, Including 8-Year-Old Girl
Cabin Carried Off by Raging Floods in Texas
River Seine Closes to Swimmers After One Day Due to Pollution
Remains of Seven Missing Workers Found After Northern California Fireworks Warehouse Explosion
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
Texas Flooding Claims Lives and Leaves Youth Campers Missing
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
President Trump Signs 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' Amid Celebratory Military Flyover
Starbucks Faces New Competition as China’s Top Coffee Chain Enters U.S. Market
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
×