DeSantis Set to Veto Florida Immigration Bill Despite Trump's Involvement
A showdown between Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and the state's Republican legislature over immigration policy takes center stage.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A proposal to implement President Donald Trump’s immigration policies in Florida is expected to be vetoed by Governor Ron DeSantis, despite significant efforts by Trump to broker the deal. The bill, passed late Tuesday night by Florida's Republican-dominated legislature, faces rejection due to tensions between DeSantis and the lawmakers, who have been increasingly assertive in challenging the governor's authority.
DeSantis, who has long been a staunch ally of Trump, expressed his disapproval of the bill’s final version, particularly provisions that would transfer much of the state’s immigration authority to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Simpson, who has had a strained relationship with DeSantis, is viewed by the governor as a threat to his control over immigration matters. This was the key issue that led DeSantis to announce he would veto the bill once it reaches his desk.
“The veto pen is ready,” DeSantis posted on X (formerly Twitter) early Wednesday morning.
The proposed legislation was initially part of a larger effort to align Florida’s immigration laws with Trump’s executive orders. In a bid to strengthen the proposal, Trump personally engaged with DeSantis and Florida legislators. Sources revealed that Trump and DeSantis spoke directly about the bill, with Trump pushing for changes and calling lawmakers to support revisions that both sides would approve.
Despite these efforts, the final 84-page bill, filed just before the Florida Senate reconvened Tuesday night, included hard-line measures such as mandatory death sentences for undocumented individuals convicted of serious crimes, higher sentencing guidelines for undocumented offenders, and incentives for local law enforcement working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These provisions mirrored proposals championed by Trump.
However, the bill’s most contentious point — the shift of immigration authority to Simpson’s office — led to public disputes between DeSantis and legislative leaders. DeSantis criticized the bill on national conservative media, calling it an unconstitutional move to strip his powers. “There’s swampy politics everywhere, and some of these legislative leaders foisted a different bill,” he said during an appearance on Fox News.
While Republicans in the state legislature hold supermajorities, which could theoretically override a gubernatorial veto, DeSantis still has strong support among some legislators. Only five out of the 29 Republican senators opposed the bill, signaling that a veto override is unlikely.
The conflict between DeSantis and the legislature is expected to extend into Florida’s regular legislative session, where lawmakers may propose additional measures that could undermine the governor's authority. One proposal, discussed Tuesday night, could involve an investigation into whether taxpayer dollars were used to fund social media campaigns targeting legislators, particularly anonymous accounts seen as attacking lawmakers aligned with DeSantis.
Despite the lack of immediate resolution, the battle over immigration in Florida is far from over. Following the veto, DeSantis is likely to call for a special session to push for a new immigration overhaul that aligns with his vision.