Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been a fierce warrior for Donald Trump and conservatives when it comes to the immigration battle.
DeSantis tried to call a special session of the state legislature after Trump was elected to get ahead of the administration on this front. Now, Key West is defying a DeSantis order, and he is out for blood.
The order
In February, DeSantis issued an order that all law enforcement agencies in the state were directed to work with ICE and DHS on immigration.
DeSantis stated, “Florida is setting the example for states in combating illegal immigration and working with the Trump Administration to restore the rule of law.
“By allowing our state agents and law enforcement officers to be trained and approved by ICE, Florida will now have more enforcement personnel deputized to assist federal partners. That means deportations can be carried out more efficiently, making our communities safer as illegal aliens are removed.”
This was a huge move by DeSantis, and very much appreciated by the administration, but there were liberal officials in the state who objected and threatened not to obey the order.
Pushing back
The Key West Commission just defied DeSantis, voting to end the city’s agreement to cooperate with ICE and DHS.
The new resolution also orders the city manager and its police chief to “refrain” from entering into any new agreements with these agencies “until the courts have ruled on the obligations imposed on local governments.”
Commissioner Donald Lee, the city’s former police chief, stated, “I try not to make decisions with my heart because it can get me into trouble. Tonight, I am going to make a decision from my heart, and I hope it doesn’t get the city in trouble.”
The DeSantis administration was furious when the resolution passed. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier responded, “The City of Key West will be hearing from my office very soon.”
You have been warned
Uthmeier did not take too long to follow up on his threat, writing, “Florida law unequivocally forbids sanctuary cities.
“Failure to take corrective action will result in the enforcement of all applicable civil and criminal penalties, including removal from office by the governor.”
For now, DeSantis is allowing him to do the heavy lifting, stating, “I think the attorney general has weighed in on that, and I’ll let him do the analysis and send them whatever warnings need to be sent.”
I love the fact DeSantis and company are going after them right away, but I really want to see the Supreme Court weigh in on this issue to settle it once and for all. I just don’t see how cities and states can blatantly disregard federal laws on illegal immigration when the courts have ruled time and again that immigration is a federal issue.
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Author: Jerry McConway
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