Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
DeSantis defends use of state facilities and law-enforcement role in immigration operations
Summary
In audience Q&A Governor DeSantis said state-used facilities housing individuals awaiting DHS placement are reimbursable and that Florida law enforcement has supplemented federal efforts, reporting nearly 10,000 Highway Patrol arrests of undocumented immigrants this year.
During audience questions Governor DeSantis addressed immigration operations and the state's role housing individuals until the U.S. Department of Homeland Security takes custody. He said the state does not unilaterally select who is housed in those facilities; DHS determines placements, and Florida'operated sites are intended to avoid releasing people "earmarked for deportation" onto the street.
DeSantis said costs for those facilities are "reimbursable, a 100%," and described the state's contribution as supplemental to federal actions. He also reported the Florida Highway Patrol had approached 10,000 arrests of undocumented immigrants this year and said the state'level activity was occurring alongside FDLE and local sheriff efforts.
The governor framed the state actions as responding to public concern about border-related costs and public-safety impacts and argued that removing criminal aliens saves taxpayers money on health care, education and law enforcement costs. He acknowledged he had not been briefed on particular foreign incidents raised in one question and said those operational details would be known to local and federal authorities.
Notationally, the transcript records the governor's characterizations (reimbursement, arrest counts) as his statements during the session; the reporting here attributes those claims to him and notes figures were not independently verified onstage.
