Gov. DeSantis gives update on immigration in Florida

SANDERSON, Fla. — According to information from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, more than 600,000 immigrants were deported last year under the Trump administration.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said Monday during an appearance at the Baker Correctional Institution in Sanderson — which the DeSantis administration has dubbed “Deportation Depot” — that the state is playing its part to enforce the country’s immigration policies.

What You Need To Know

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Monday that more than 10,000 undocumented immigrants were taken into custody last year in Florida

DeSantis said his administration is working to ensure the implementation of 287(g) agreements is uniform across Florida

He said the overall goal is to keep undocumented immigrants in Florida for as short a time as possible by streamlining the process to remove them from the state

More than 10,000 immigrants were taken into custody last year in Florida, and DeSantis said it’s just the beginning.

Out of those arrests, DeSantis said 63% were criminal arrests that were made thanks, in part, to the state’s 287(g) agreements, which require law enforcement to enter into agreements with U.S. and immigration enforcement or ICE. 

DeSantis said all 67 counties are participating, but noted that enforcement isn’t uniform across the state — something that his administration is working to address.

“We also have had people in more non law enforcement agencies, like the department of lottery they have 287(g) agreements,” DeSantis said. “I mean, it’s pretty incredible that we’ve really gone that extensive and that deep, and we also have a number of sheriffs throughout the state.”

Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol said the department has made more than 7,000 arrests that have led to a quick transition to an immigration facility.

They say many of the people taken into custody had criminal backgrounds.

DeSantis said the overall goal is to keep undocumented immigrants in Florida for as short a time as possible by streamlining the process to remove them from the state.