DeSantis warns Florida lawmakers not to defy him on immigration: ‘It would be very, very hazardous’

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned Thursday that Republican legislators could pay a political price if they defy him and refuse to enact sweeping illegal immigration and ballot initiative bills during next week’s scheduled special session.

DeSantis wants lawmakers to act quickly, pinning the need for urgency to the inauguration of President Donald Trump and his immigration executive orders. The governor ordered lawmakers back to town, but so far there are no signs that the GOP-controlled Legislature will actually take any action during the five-day session.

DeSantis has openly questioned legislators’ reticence in recent days, including on a Fox News appearance this week.

“It would be very, very hazardous politically,” DeSantis said, if legislators were to come to the Capitol and quickly move to adjourn.

The governor also emphasized he was willing to call another special session if legislators resist him. “I will continue to wield [my power as governor] as appropriate,” he said during a roundtable in Jacksonville.

The governor’s continued pressure campaign comes amid bubbling tension between DeSantis and legislative leaders since September, when he first called for legislators to revisit laws they passed in the wake of the Surfside condominium collapse. It reached a boiling point when DeSantis called for a special session starting Jan. 27 to primarily address immigration policy issues.

House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton pushed back, saying it was “premature” for legislators to tackle undocumented immigration and other issues so close to the March regular session.

DeSantis has insisted that the special session is in line with what state voters and the Trump administration want when it comes to changing immigration policy in the state and nationwide. “It’s not premature. Now’s the time to act,” he said.

Spokespeople for both Perez and Albritton did not respond to the governor’s latest comments. The state House and Senate have not released any schedules for the special session nor acknowledged that they are accepting bills.

Some of the key proposals DeSantis has championed include mandating “maximum participation” with law enforcement in deporting undocumented immigrants and suspending local officials who fail to cooperate.

He also wants to establish criminal penalties for “illegal entry” in the state; appoint a state immigration enforcement officer to coordinate with federal authorities and expand a migrant transport program that DeSantis used to transport migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard. The governor wants to be able to ship migrants from Florida to other countries instead of sending them to other states.

DeSantis also wants to repeal a law that allows children of undocumented migrants to pay the tuition rate charged to residents. That law was sponsored by Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez when she was a state legislator.

The governor insisted that rank-and-file members have privately told him they are willing to participate in the special session and work on these proposals. Trump has publicly praised DeSantis and called on other governors to follow his lead.

During his event in Jacksonville, DeSantis was joined by longstanding allies, including state Rep. Kiyan Michael and Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters. Michael’s son was killed in a car accident by a driver who was an undocumented immigrant and who did not possess a drivers’ license.