Florida Republicans Clash with DeSantis Over Immigration Policy as Trump’s Orders Loom
State GOP leaders reject DeSantis’ special session and propose their own immigration plan, intensifying intraparty conflict.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A battle is brewing within Florida’s Republican Party over immigration policy, with Governor Ron DeSantis facing a growing challenge from GOP legislative leaders as they try to align the state’s laws with President Donald Trump’s immigration reforms.
DeSantis had called lawmakers back to Tallahassee for a special legislative session aimed at synchronizing state laws with anticipated immigration executive orders from Trump. However, Republican leaders in both the state House and Senate, who criticized DeSantis’ proposal as “premature,” abruptly ended the special session on Monday morning, opting instead to convene their own session.
This move effectively quashed legislation introduced by DeSantis’ allies and allowed Republican leaders to draft their own immigration policies—ones that could put DeSantis in a difficult political position. Their plan would strip DeSantis of key immigration enforcement powers and assign them to Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a statewide elected official who has been rumored to be eyeing a gubernatorial run in 2026 and has had a strained relationship with the governor.
State House Speaker Danny Perez explained that under their proposal, Simpson would serve as the state’s “chief immigration officer,” a role that does not currently exist. DeSantis had also proposed creating such a position, but he envisioned it falling under his own authority.
“We need a singular point of focus in the state government for coordinating immigration,” Perez said. “We need an agency with broader reach in the state and experience working with the federal government and law enforcement.”
This move has placed DeSantis in a challenging position, highlighting his diminishing political influence in the state as he focuses on his 2024 presidential campaign.
DeSantis responded on social media, calling the Legislature’s proposal “substantially weaker” on immigration than his own. He also criticized the idea of giving immigration oversight to the agriculture commissioner, whose office oversees an industry heavily reliant on immigrant labor. “By giving enforcement power to the agricultural arm of state government, it ensures that enforcement never actually occurs,” he wrote, adding, “It puts the fox in charge of the henhouse.”
If the legislative leaders’ bill passes, DeSantis will face a tough decision: either sign a bill that diminishes his ability to manage immigration enforcement in the state or veto a proposal that includes strict immigration measures he generally supports.
The Republican leadership has faced backlash on social media from prominent DeSantis supporters, who argue that their hesitation to fully back the governor signals a disconnect with Trump’s immigration agenda. Despite this, Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton have maintained that their proposals align with Trump’s executive orders.
Their plan includes provisions that would require state and local law enforcement to cooperate closely with federal immigration authorities, mandate that judges and state attorneys be informed of a defendant’s immigration status before making bail decisions, and allocate $500 million for local law enforcement to combat illegal immigration. It would also expand penalties for crimes committed by undocumented individuals and eliminate in-state tuition for "Dreamers"—undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children—a move DeSantis has supported.
Trump, who had previously endorsed DeSantis' special session, reiterated his support for the governor but also backed the legislative leaders' efforts. "Thank you, Ron, hopefully other governors will follow," Trump posted on Truth Social.
Perez told NBC News that the legislative leaders had spoken with the White House and agree with Trump’s immigration reform goals. However, they felt DeSantis' proposals were not the best approach. “The American people have resoundingly rejected the policy of open borders, and President Trump is moving decisively to address this crisis,” Perez said. “Unfortunately, the governor’s proclamation was just too narrow to accomplish all of the things that we must do to assist President Trump.”
DeSantis had been pushing for changes that would allow state officials to take on tasks typically reserved for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including expanding his Unauthorized Alien Transport Program, which was used in 2023 to send migrants to Democratic-led states. His plan also sought to train state and local law enforcement to perform immigration enforcement duties, using $350 million in new funding.
Perez dismissed DeSantis’ approach as too bureaucratic. “We do not need to duplicate the functions of U.S. Immigration and Customs and create a mini-me version of ICE,” he said, adding that DeSantis' proposals would “hijack” local law enforcement operations.
The clash underscores the deepening rift within Florida’s Republican Party over immigration policy, with DeSantis and GOP legislative leaders positioning themselves as key players in the state’s efforts to shape the national immigration debate.