Governor DeSantis highlighted three major steps Florida will take to solve the Biden Border Crisis today. First, Governor DeSantis said that the state of Florida has organized a strike team of state and local law enforcement to combat people smuggling, human trafficking, and the transportation of illicit firearms across the state.
Second, Governor DeSantis has petitioned the Florida Supreme Court to appoint a statewide grand jury to investigate international human smuggling networks that smuggle illegal immigrants to the southern border and then to Florida.
Third, Governor DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1808, comprehensive legislation he sponsored to strengthen Floridians’ protections against the Biden Border Crisis. Here’s a one-pager on today’s news.
“Record numbers of illegal aliens are being transported across the border, which the Biden administration’s irresponsible actions encourage,” stated Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today, Florida took extra steps to safeguard our state from the consequences of a full-fledged border catastrophe.”
Attorney General Ashley Moody stated, “As a mother, safeguarding children is near and dear to my heart.” “We cannot turn a blind eye to human traffickers and smugglers who take advantage of the border issue to put children in perilous situations.”
I am grateful to Governor DeSantis for asking the Florida Supreme Court to appoint a grand jury to investigate the facts surrounding anyone in Florida who may be implicated.”
“While Biden overlooks the border disaster he created, Florida is taking steps to safeguard its citizens under Governor DeSantis’ leadership,” Senator Aaron Bean stated. “I was happy to propose Senate Bill 1808, which ensures that Florida taxpayers’ money does not go to corporations who assist the federal government in smuggling illegal aliens into our nation.”
“While Joe Biden has been complicit in keeping our southern border wide open, Florida is standing up for the rule of law under Governor DeSantis’ leadership,” stated Representative John Snyder.
“By prohibiting unauthorized aliens from flying at night and requiring county sheriffs to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, SB 1808 demonstrates that, while the Biden administration continues to turn a blind eye, Florida will do everything in our constitutional power to protect our citizens.”
“Keeping illegal activity out of our state and off our roads is a battle that cannot be won alone,” said Colonel Gene S. Spaulding, Director of the Florida Highway Patrol.
“Florida is in good shape thanks to the strong support of Governor DeSantis, the Florida Legislature, and effective collaboration between Florida’s law enforcement agencies.”
“Every day, men and women from the Florida Highway Patrol don their uniforms and leave the safety and security of their homes to safeguard the inhabitants of our beautiful state.”
They make these sacrifices because they are courageous, ready to serve, and unselfish. Our citizens and tourists may rest assured that our law enforcement personnel have their backs, and the Governor has ours.”
Acting Commissioner Mark Glass of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) stated, “The repercussions of illegal immigration on our state create very serious costs to our individuals and communities.”
“As demonstrated in today’s operation, FDLE’s collaboration with our law enforcement partners around the state and ‘boots-on-the-ground’ police work proven beneficial in keeping all of us safer.”
“Our strike team is committed to disrupting illicit activities in Florida and collaborating with state attorneys to pursue people traffickers and other offenders to the fullest extent of the law,” said Public Safety Czar Larry Keefe.
“The strike team’s commitment to keeping Florida safe is much appreciated.”
Governor DeSantis announced the efforts of law enforcement to combat immigration-related crimes.
The strike team, which includes members of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, and sheriffs, is coordinating activities across the state to prevent people smuggling and trafficking, as well as narcotics smuggling and trafficking and the seizure of illicit firearms.
In only three days, police officials in Northwest Florida detained and prosecuted five illegal immigrants from Honduras and two from El Salvador with people smuggling or encouragement to conduct human smuggling. In addition, the strike squad discovered roughly four grams of fentanyl, enough to kill over 2,000 Floridians.
Governor DeSantis has asked the Florida Supreme Court to appoint a statewide grand jury to identify and investigate individuals and multinational people smuggling networks that transport illegal aliens, particularly minors, across the southwest border to more attractive areas like Florida.
The jury will look into how these networks have impacted Florida and how they have broken state laws. In addition, the grand jury will look into local governments that are complicit in the smuggling plan by breaking state law, which mandates them to work with the federal government on immigration issues.
Senate Bill (SB) 1808 prohibits a governmental entity from executing, amending, or renewing a contract with a common carrier if the carrier is willfully providing any service in furtherance of transporting an unauthorized alien into the State of Florida while knowing that he or she is an unauthorized alien, unless the unauthorized person is detained, removed, or departs from Florida or the United States.
This bill makes it clear that Florida resources will not be used to support the Biden administration’s practice of secretly resettling illegal aliens in Florida communities.
SB 1808 also mandates that any law enforcement agency operating a county detention facility sign a written agreement with ICE to participate in the 287(g) program. State and local law enforcement officers can work with ICE to enforce our nation’s immigration laws under this program.
Today’s actions build on previous efforts to protect Floridians from the Biden Border Crisis. Governor DeSantis announced actions to address the Biden Border Crisis on September 28, 2021, including issuing Executive Order 21-223.