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Ron DeSantis on Immigration

 

 


It is now a crime to enter Florida illegally

We are convening for the regular Legislative session having already enacted groundbreaking legislation to fulfill the historic mission of delivering on President Donald Trump's mandate to end the illegal immigration crisis once and for all. Thanks to the recent legislation, it is now a crime to enter Florida illegally, the days of catch and release are over, and all state and local law enforcement have a duty to assist in interior immigration enforcement efforts.
Source: 2025 State of the State Address to the Florida legislature , Mar 4, 2025

Remain in Mexico; no benefit from military-age males

Q: You're vowing to deport all undocumented immigrants who entered the country during the Biden administration. So by the end of your first term, every single one of those undocumented immigrants will be out of the country?

DeSANTIS: It's not limited to just what's coming from Biden, but we're going to start there and go through that. So, obviously, all of them that we can do there. You have millions more people coming in. That puts the screws on the housing. So, you have to enforce the law. We're going to definitely start with those Biden folks because I think it was reckless that he led all these people in illegally. It's not just people coming from Mexico or Central America. Yes, there's a lot from a hundred different countries--China, Middle Eastern countries, Russia. And you know what a lot of it is? Military age males. Do you think that's going to be a benefit for this country to have those folks coming in that we know nothing about? I think it's a security risk and we need to act.

Source: CNN Town Hall: interviews of 2024 presidential candidates , Jan 16, 2024

Shipping migrants to Martha's Vineyard made it a news issue

Q: How do tactics such as rounding up illegal immigrants and shipping them to Martha's Vineyard bring the nation together to discuss comprehensive immigration reform? Wasn't that a little more than a cheap political stunt?

DeSANTIS: If you go back to September 2022, how was the border being treated? It was not at front-burner issue. The problems were real, but it wasn't getting the type of scrutiny that it needed. Martha's Vineyard said they were sanctuary jurisdiction. They said "all people are welcome, whether they're legal or not." These border towns in Texas are getting thousands and thousands. Martha's Vineyard couldn't even handle 50. But this was something that the media really glommed onto. So it ended up raising the temperature on this, and now you have this being discussed everywhere. So I don't think it was cheap at all. We banned sanctuary cities in Florida. As president, I'm not going to allow sanctuary states or sanctuary cities in this country. They're violating the law.

Source: CNN Town Hall: interviews of 2024 presidential candidates , Jan 16, 2024

Charge fees on worker remittances to foreign countries

Q: Trump famously promised to build a wall on the southern border. He obviously did not get that done. You have promised to finish the job. How will you succeed where he failed?

DESANTIS: We will build a wall. We will actually have Mexico pay for it, in the way that I thought Donald Trump [meant]. We're going to charge fees on remittances that workers send to foreign countries, billions of dollars. We'll build the wall. He also promised record deportations. Donald Trump deported fewer people than Barack Obama did when he was president. Biden's let in 8 million people just in four years. They all have to go back. We have to enforce the rule of law in this country. Biden has failed in this endeavor. He has not taken care that the laws of this country be faithfully executed. Do not trust Nikki Haley with illegal immigration--she's on tape at the Aspen Institute saying it's disrespectful to illegal aliens to say that they're criminals. They're violating the law. That's what's disrespectful.

Source: CNN 2024 pre-Iowa caucus one-on-one debate , Jan 10, 2024

Every state now a border state--Florida is fighting back!

Since President Biden won't stop the flow of illegal immigrants and dangerous drugs across the border, Florida has been forced to pick up the slack. We've now sent over 100 Florida State Troopers and dozens of FWC officers to help Texas with border operations, banned sanctuary cities, and instituted policies to deter illegal immigration into our state. The Biden Border Crisis has made every state a border state--and Florida is fighting back!
Source: 2024 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature , Jan 9, 2024

Children born here to illegal immigrants aren't "anchors"

DeSantis said, "The 14th Amendment obviously applies to U.S. citizens. It was never the intended to say, you come illegally across the border, have a kid, and all of sudden, the kid is an American citizen? That creates an anchor in the society so that you then can't deport the illegal aliens who came in. It's an incentive to come illegally. When people are coming illegally, they do not have a birthright at that point."

[DeSantis is proposing to overturn a Supreme Court precedent from 1898]: Fact Check by The Guardian, Mar. 16 2020 Children born on US soil can't just immediately safeguard their family members from deportation. A US citizen must be 21 years old before they can sponsor their parents for a green card. Even if parents do get a green card, they have a five-year holding period before they can finally apply for naturalization. In the end, the so-called "anchor baby" pathway to citizenship is at least a 26-year endeavor, even for those who entered the US legally.

Source: Guardian FactCheck on CNN Town Hall 2024 pre-Iowa caucus , Jan 4, 2024

Europe committing suicide with mass migration

Q: Do you support President Trump's plan for ideological screening?

Nikk Haley: I don't think that you have a straight-up Muslim ban, you look at the countries that have terrorist activity that want to hurt Americans.

Ron DeSantis: It's not just terrorism--look what's happened in Europe. You have more anti-Semitism in Germany than at any time since Adolf Hitler. Why? Because they imported mass numbers of people who reject their culture. Europe is committing suicide with the mass migration and it's illegal and legal. Nikki Haley said the other day there should be no limits on legal immigration. There needs to be limits on immigration and we should not be importing people from cultures that are hostile. So for example, [some suggested] importing 300,000 people from the Gaza Strip. I said, "No, we're not taking anyone from Gaza because of the anti-Semitism and because they reject American culture, so we've got to get smart about this. We cannot let the United States be like Europe."

Source: NewsNation 2023 Republican primary debate in Alabama , Dec 6, 2023

Terrorists have come in through our southern border

Gov. Ron DeSantis: When I'm president, we are not going to send your sons and daughters to Ukraine. I am going to send troops to our southern border. If you look at the threats that we face, terrorists have come in through our southern border. I'm going to shut it down. I'm going to have the military and I'm going to deport the people who've come, particularly under Biden, who've come from the Middle East, come from all these places.
Source: NBC News 2023 Republican primary debate in Miami , Nov 8, 2023

Hispanics support robust border and immigration enforcement

During my first year in Congress, the divide between the DC GOP and our Republican voters back home was on stark display on the issue of immigration. The Republican intelligentsia inside the Beltway believed as an article of faith that, to win national elections, Republicans needed to embrace amnesty for illegal aliens.

I've found that most Hispanics support robust border and immigration enforcement measures and are not terribly sympathetic to those who enter the United States illegally.

DC Republicans supported major expansions of immigration to serve corporate interests, particularly in ways that would facilitate more cheap labor. The effect that such policies might have on the wages of American workers did not seem to be much concern--a classic example of Beltway Republicans putting Americans last.

Source: The Courage to be Free, by Gov. Ron DeSantis, p. 51 , Feb 28, 2023

Create program to transport unauthorized aliens within US

SB 6B - Transportation of Inspected Unauthorized Aliens: Creating the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program within the Division of Emergency Management to facilitate the transport of inspected unauthorized aliens within the United States.

ACLU-Florida testimony in opposition, 2/9: This bill seeks to reestablish an abhorrent program through a different state agency. Because last year's "relocation program" faces several legal challenges, the Governor is now seeking to repeal the original program and create a new one via a different funding stream. This bill wastes taxpayers' money [by] expelling migrant families costing taxpayers millions, including both the private flight costs and legal fees. This Bill hurts families [such as those[ sent to Martha's Vineyard last year [who] arrived with no food, water, or shelter.

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 27-2-1 on Feb/8/23; passed House 77-34-8 on Feb/10/23; signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on Feb/15/23.

Source: Florida State Legislature voting records HB 5B/SB 6B , Feb 15, 2023

Re-route illegal aliens in Florida to sanctuary states

As a state, we cannot be a party to what is effectively a massive human smuggling operation run by the federal government. Companies who are facilitating the movement of illegal aliens from the southern border to Florida should be held accountable, including by paying restitution to the state for all the costs they are imposing on our communities. I am also requesting funds so that when the feds dump illegal aliens in Florida, the state can re-route them to states that have sanctuary policies.
Source: 2022 State of the State Address to the Idaho legislature , Jan 11, 2022

End catch and release, finish the border wall

Our idea is very simple. Our lawsuit says end catch and release. If they end catch and release and they reinstitute remain in Mexico and finish construction of the border wall, guess what? Crisis will be ended. People will stop even coming because they know they're not going to be able to.
Source: FOX News on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race , Sep 29, 2021

Pull over drivers suspected of transporting immigrants

During the Donald Trump years, DeSantis targeted the influx of Central Americans, and he's now doing likewise to Haitians under Joe Biden. He thinks he's punishing this other "foreign" Florida, but he's bad-mouthing and hurting all of us immigrants. His newly issued mandate to law enforcement that they pull over drivers they suspect are transporting immigrants into the state is going to be tricky to carry out without violating Americans' constitutional rights.
Source: Miami Herald on 2022 Florida Gubernatorial race , Jul 6, 2021

Against open borders, amnesty, cheap foreign labor

We reject open borders and instead support American sovereignty and the American worker. Building a movement on the foundation of amnesty and cheap foreign labor is like building a house on a field of quicksand.
Source: Remarks by Senator DeSantis at the 2021 CPAC Conference , Feb 26, 2021

No sanctuary cities in Florida

Florida will not be a sanctuary state - we won't allow someone here illegally to commit criminal misconduct and simply be returned to our communities. And we won't tolerate sanctuary cities that actively frustrate law enforcement by shielding criminal aliens from accountability at the expense of public safety. Let's prohibit sanctuary cities in Florida.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to the Florida legislature , Mar 5, 2019

DACA is unconstitutional; opposes any path to citizenship

Q: Support path to citizenship for America's 11 million illegal immigrants, including "DACA" recipients or "Dreamers," who grew up in the US after being brought here as children?

Ron DeSantis (R): No. Considers DACA unconstitutional. Opposes any path to citizenship. DACA "amnesty" would further incentivize illegal immigration & chain migration. Fire officials who abet sanctuary cities.

Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Can protect national security "without criminalizing" undocumented people.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Florida Governor race , Oct 9, 2018

Supports E-Verify; opposes sanctuary cities

DeSantis fully backs President Donald Trump's moves to enforce border security and deport illegal immigrants. As governor, DeSantis has promised to ban "sanctuary cities" even though virtually no city in Florida has such policies. West Palm Beach was on a list of cities identified by the Trump administration as possibly having policies of non-cooperation with federal immigration officials, but elected officials there dispute that, saying they cooperate with federal authorities when asked.

Alachua and Clay counties have been accused of being sanctuary areas for not complying with detention requests in some instances, but those claims are disputed as well.

DeSantis also wants to enact an E-Verify law requiring employers to check the immigration status of their workers. It's an idea Gov. Rick Scott pushed in his first year in office but quickly dropped when it failed to get through the Legislature.

Source: Orlando Sentinel on 2018 Florida gubernatorial race , Aug 31, 2018

Get tough on illegal immigration

GOP Congressional candidate Ron DeSantis Thursday announced another in a line of national endorsements.

He is being supported by Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who calls himself "America's toughest sheriff."

"I'm proud to endorse Ron DeSantis for Congress because I know he will stand up for the rule of law and get tough on illegal immigration," said Arpaio, who is the sheriff of Maricopa County.

He has become well known for an outspoken stance against illegal immigration, and for making prisoners wear pink underware.

DeSantis, an attorney, is running for the 6th Congressional District, which includes St. Johns, Flagler, Volusia and Putnam Counties. He already has national endorsements from Club for Growth and former U.N. ambassador John Bolton

Source: Press release on 2012 House campaign website voteRon2012.com , Aug 2, 2012

Supports exiting US to apply for citizenship.

DeSantis supports the PVS survey question on amnesty

Project Vote Smart infers candidate issue stances on key topics by summarizing public speeches and public statements. Congressional candidates are given the opportunity to respond in detail; about 11% did so in the 2012 races.

Project Vote Smart summarizes candidate stances on the following topic: 'Immigration: Do you support requiring illegal immigrants to return to their country of origin before they are eligible for citizenship?'

Source: Project Vote Smart 12-PVS-q12 on Aug 30, 2012

Voted YES to ban DREAMer immigrants from military service.

DeSantis voted YEA Gosar Anti-DACA Amendment to H.R. 5293

Congressional Summary: The House voted on an amendment by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-AZ) to H.R. 5293, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act of 2017. The amendment would prohibit funds from being used to extend the expiration of, or reissue a new expiration date to, the Military Accessions Vital to National Interest (MAVNI) program.

Recommendation by Heritage Foundation to vote YES:(6/16/2016): The MAVNI program is a pilot program authorizing `military services to recruit certain legal immigrants whose skills are considered to be vital to the national interest.` However, a DoD memo has made it clear that DACA/DAPA recipients are eligible under this program, essentially opening up a pathway to amnesty for illegal aliens who enlist. By ensuring that this guidance ends, DOD will no longer be able to enlist illegal immigrants through MAVNI.

Recommendation by the ACLU to vote NO: (6/28/2011): The DREAM Act promotes fundamental fairness for young people by allowing access to affordable post-secondary education and military service opportunities, regardless of immigration status, and would provide a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, have lived here for at least five years and have graduated from high school. The DREAM Act could result in billions of dollars in additional tax revenue from tapping the potential of DREAM-eligible students and future service personnel. Since September 11, 2001, more than 69,000 immigrants have earned citizenship while serving, and more than 125 who entered military service after that date have made the ultimate sacrifice in war by giving their lives for this nation.

Legislative outcome: Failed House 210 to 211 (no Senate vote)

Source: Congressional vote 16-H5293 on Jun 16, 2016

Other governors on Immigration: Ron DeSantis on other issues:
FL Gubernatorial:
Annette Taddeo
Brian Moore
Charlie Crist
Nikki Fried
FL Senatorial:
Alan Grayson
Debbie Mucarsel-Powell
Marco Rubio
Mike Haridopolos
Rick Scott
Val Demings
Gubernatorial races 2025:
New Jersey Governor:
Virginia Governor:
    Democratic primary June 17 cancelled:
  • Abigail Spanberger, U.S.Rep., VA-7 (2019-2024); Dem. nominee 2025
  • Levar Stoney, VA Secretary of the Commonwealth (2014-2016); (withdrew to run for Lt. Gov.)

    Republican primary June 17 cancelled:
  • Winsome Earle-Sears, Lt. Gov. since 2022; GOP nominee 2025
  • Amanda Chase, State Senate District 11 (2016-2023); failed to make ballot
  • Denver Riggleman, U.S.Rep. (R-VA-5); exploratory committee as Independent
  • Glenn Youngkin, Incumbent Governor , (2022-2025), term-limited
Mayoral races 2025:
NYC Mayor Democratic primary June 24, 2025:
  • Adrienne Adams, speaker of the City Council
  • Andrew Cuomo, former governor of New York, 2011-2021.
    Republican June 24 primary cancelled; general election Nov. 4:
  • Eric Adams, incumbent Democratic mayor running as an independent
  • Jim Walden, Independent; Former assistant U.S. Attorney
  • Curtis Sliwa, Republican; CEO of the Guardian Angels

Jersey City Mayor (Non-partisan)
    Non-partisan general election Nov. 4:
  • Mussab Ali, former president of the Jersey City Board of Education
  • Bill O'Dea, Hudson County commissioner (since 1997)
  • Jim McGreevey, former N.J. Governor (2002-2004)
  • James Solomon, city councilor (since 2017)
  • Joyce Watterman, president of the Jersey City Council (since 2023)

Oakland CA Mayor
    Non-partisan special election April 14, 2025:
  • Barbara Lee, U.S.Rep CA-12 (1998-2025)
  • Loren Taylor, Oakland City Council (2019-2023), lost general election
  • Sheng Thao, Oakland Mayor, lost recall election Nov. 5, 2024
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Page last updated: Jun 01, 2025; copyright 1999-2022 Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org