Florida Republicans Reject DeSantis on Immigration Bill

In an unprecedented move, Florida Republican lawmakers rejected Governor Ron DeSantis' request for a special session to discuss immigration reforms, quickly ending the session and introducing their own bill, the 'Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy (TRUMP) Act.' This act aims to enhance law enforcement resources while taking immigration enforcement powers away from the governor's office and giving them to the state agriculture commissioner, a shift that DeSantis criticized as unconstitutional and ineffective. Legislative leaders expressed that while DeSantis' proposals included some good ideas, they found many to be bureaucratic and unnecessary. This marked a notable shift in the dynamics of Florida's GOP, with lawmakers expressing their frustration over being pressured into a special session and signaling a decline in DeSantis' influence over the legislature. DeSantis retaliated on social media, claiming the new bill is a 'bait-and-switch' tactic that undermines serious immigration reform. The political fallout reflects a growing rift between DeSantis and state legislators as he approaches the end of his second term.