Politics
Gov. DeSantis’ ‘law and order’ budget puts illegal immigration over prisons
If budgets are a statement of priorities, Gov. Ron DeSantis in his seventh proposed budget makes clear where his lie. His budget proposal for the 2025-26 fiscal year slots a lot of money to thwart and address illegal immigration, while allocating a relatively modest sum for state’s the criminal justice system.
Within proposed public safety spending, the “Focus on Fiscal Responsibility” budget includes more than half a billion dollars for the fight against illegal immigration.
“DeSantis recommends $505 million and 15 FTE (full-time employees) in the current year for the Division of Emergency Management and $4.4 million and 21 FTE to establish a Special Immigration Unit at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to immediately assist the federal administration’s enforcement of illegal immigration,” the memo reads.
The battle between DeSantis and the Legislature is ongoing over the Legislature-approved TRUMP Act that puts immigration enforcement powers in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. DeSantis’ budget proposal floated Sunday night puts a price tag on a key component of the Governor’s immigration reform wishlist ahead of an impending veto of the legislative product, which has yet to be transmitted to DeSantis.
The Governor has been outspoken in his desire to focus state resources on the federal battle against illegal immigration. He pitched Florida as a logical launching pad for the removal of undocumented immigrants last week, saying he wanted Florida to “get in the game” of sending those in the country illegally to Guantanamo Bay.
DeSantis also said “deputized” state forces who can “make the same decisions” as Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Border Patrol could also “take them back to Haiti or the Bahamas or wherever they are coming from, right on the spot” if they “intercept them on the sea.”
Resources for this proposed expansion of enforcement prerogative, under DeSantis’ proposed budget, come at the expense of more quotidian needs, though, including the Department of Corrections and the state prison system.
Roughly $13 million is considered to help with communications and security, including “$3 million for security equipment, such as drone detection equipment, thermal fence cameras, drone support for K–9 operations, and license plate readers;” $8 million to “improve infrastructure;” and more than $2 million for radio tower replacement and satellite phones for probation officers.
Concerns have been raised about the prison system’s “unsustainable” path, where facilities built before 1980 and without central heat and air conditioning predominate. But despite years of budget surpluses, moves to improve inmates’ and staff prison experiences have been half measures at best. DeSantis has vetoed money for recommended new facilities in recent years.
It remains to be seen how the illegal immigration focus as contemplated in the budget is received by the legislative branch.
House Speaker Daniel Perez describes DeSantis as a would-be “deporter-in-chief” who is more interested in winning news cycles than in winning the fight against illegal immigration.
“The results on immigration have been more of a headline than a reality,” the Speaker told an interviewer recently. “We’ve spent tens of millions of dollars, and other than the immigrants or migrants that were flown to Martha’s Vineyard since then, there hasn’t been any alien transport going on.”
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State Sen. Nick DiCeglie, an Indian Rocks Beach Republican, and state Rep. Lindsay Cross, a St. Petersburg Democrat, are collaborating on legislation to improve traffic safety and manage vehicle behavior during floods and severe weather.
The lawmakers filed bipartisan legislation (SB 350 and HB 241) prohibiting motorists from driving at high speeds through a flood zone. This proposed law would reduce the number of vehicles creating wakes and exacerbating potential flood damage to homes and businesses.
“I heard from countless residents whose homes were already flooded during Hurricane Helene forced to endure even more flood damage from vehicles driving at high speeds through their neighborhood, causing additional wake,” DiCeglie said. “This is a common-sense fix that will ensure our communities are protected during these extreme weather events.”
Added Cross: “In the aftermath of hurricanes Eta, Debby, Helene and Milton, we need to do everything we can to minimize the impact from flooding to homes and businesses. It’s heartbreaking for neighbors to stand in their doorways, praying that a vehicle driving down their street doesn’t push more water into their homes, destroying their possessions and memories.”
The measures would allow local governments to enact ordinances governing the operation of motor vehicles, boats and other conveyances to limit wake on roadways.
“As a coastal community, it is important to champion initiatives that will aid our public safety officials in keeping our residents and properties safe,” St. Petersburg City Council member Brandi Gabbard said. “By making this change to state statute, it will allow local governments to enact lower speed enforcement during times of street flooding, alleviating undue stress and damage. I am grateful to leaders such as Rep Cross and Sen. DiCeglie for their leadership and their partnership in this effort.”
The need for such measures became painfully evident last year when storm surge from Hurricane Helene caused widespread flooding in the Tampa Bay area, including Pinellas County beaches represented by DiCeglie, and low-lying areas such as Shore Acres in St. Petersburg, which Cross represents. The wake from vehicles zooming through floodwaters can create or worsen flooding to homes, other cars, businesses and infrastructure.
“I want to thank Sen. DiCeglie and Rep. Cross for listening to the people of Shore Acres. Time and time again, we have witnessed reckless drivers plowing through floodwaters, creating a wake that causes millions more in property damage. The community of Shore Acres fully supports this critical legislation,” Shore Acres Civic Association President Kevin Batdorf said.
The measure would also give law enforcement an additional tool for educating the public about safe driving during weather events.
“Residents and business owners shouldn’t have to worry about careless drivers causing additional water damage to their properties as they try to begin the recovery process,” said Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, who added his thanks to DiCeglie and Cross for their “common sense legislation.”
St. Petersburg Police Chief Anthony Holloway similarly celebrated the proposal.
“St. Petersburg Police Department supports the Vehicle Wakes bill, as it empowers communities to better address post-storm flood damage,” he said. “By reducing the destructive impact of vehicle wakes during flooding, this legislation will help protect homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure, ensuring our neighborhoods recover more quickly and effectively after storms.”
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Politics
‘Great discussions’ between Gov. DeSantis, Legislature could lead to immigration compromise
Gov. Ron DeSantis corroborates a Congressmember’s claim that he and the House and Senate are moving forward on a consensus product addressing illegal immigration.
“We’ve had great discussions. I think we’re going to land the plane. So I don’t necessarily have an announcement now, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to get there,” DeSantis told reporters Monday in Tallahassee.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna had said the “legislature is in discussions with DeSantis and they should be reaching an agreement soon. I hope they keep immigration authority with the Gov. Hearing the new version is WAY better than the 1.0.”
DeSantis expects a product that shows the legislative commitment to “aggressively address illegal immigration” and that last week’s discord was an “aberration.”
“I give credit to a lot of the members. They’re listening to the voters. Voters have been very, very firm on what they expect. And so when you’re elected, you listen to the people that sent you there and you make sure that your’re following through with that. So I do think that you’re going to see that plane land. It’s all about the policy,” DeSantis said.
A major bone of contention: the Governor wants to control the fight against illegal immigration. The TRUMP Act passed by the Legislature, which DeSantis said he would veto, instead gives authority to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson.
The brewing compromise represents a thawing of rhetorical ice in recent days.
DeSantis has balked at how the TRUMP Act “takes away the Governor’s authority … takes power away from me,” while House Speaker Daniel Perez said DeSantis wants to be “deporter-in-chief.”
The Governor envisions a big spend to fight illegal immigration in the next budget.
“DeSantis recommends $505 million and 15 FTE (full-time employees) in the current year for the Division of Emergency Management and $4.4 million and 21 FTE to establish a Special Immigration Unit at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to immediately assist the federal administration’s enforcement of illegal immigration,” a memo released Sunday reads.
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