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FLORIDA - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced a major expansion in state-led immigration enforcement during a press conference Monday in Tampa, revealing that Florida Highway Patrol troopers now have the authority to arrest undocumented immigrants independently of federal agents.
According to Governor DeSantis, more than 100 state troopers were recently sworn in as special deputy U.S. Marshals.
This status allows them to execute federal immigration warrants and detain individuals who are allegedly in the U.S. illegally.
The move builds on Florida’s participation in the federal 287(g) program, but provides troopers with broader arrest powers.
DeSantis stated that with this change, state law enforcement can handle nearly every stage of the immigration process, up until deportation.
He also emphasized that the same logistical expertise used in hurricane response can now be applied to managing immigration operations.
The governor outlined a proposed plan that, pending federal approval, would involve military judge advocates acting as immigration judges, setting up temporary detention centers, and arranging transportation.
“It’s probably easier to fly someone to South America than it is to Martha’s Vineyard,” DeSantis said, highlighting the state’s readiness to lead immigration enforcement efforts.
Governor DeSantis was joined by Dave Kerner, executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, and Larry Keefe, who heads the Florida State Board of Immigration Enforcement.
If approved, DeSantis said the initiative would significantly strengthen Florida’s ability to combat illegal immigration through direct state action.