DeSantis' Bold Move to Change Immigration For Good

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Florida GOP is preparing to approve a DeSantis-backed immigration bill.

Republican supermajorities in the Florida Legislature are ready to approve a comprehensive immigration package at the governor's request, which would provide millions for his contentious program transferring migrants to Democratic districts.

As he prepares to run for president in 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has become more vocal about using immigration as a political weapon to criticize President Joe Biden's southern border policy and strengthen his support within the national conservative base.

You're Paying for It

The most recent iteration of DeSantis' campaign is a 50-page legislative agreement, SB 1617, submitted following weeks of discussions with House and Senate Republicans.

On a party-line vote on Monday, Republicans in the state House approved the measure's passage out of committee.

The proposal is anticipated to be put to the vote as early as next week.

By passing the bill, DeSantis' migrant flight program would get $12 million to ship immigrants to other states. In September, after the administration paid to fly 50 migrants, the initiative gained national attention. DeSantis seems to be enjoying the attention, and he wants more of it.

Using Asylum Seekers

Many critics say he's using helpless asylum seekers to score cheap political points.

Democrats criticized the plan as cruel and claimed that Congress should be in charge of immigration reform in general.

Democrats offered many amendments to the bill to temper some contentious aspects, but the Republican-dominated House Commerce Committee quickly rejected each one.

Over the past few years, one of the bill's controversial provisions has been whether to require all state employers to use E-Verify. This federal database can validate a potential employee's eligibility.

Conservatives have long pushed for the state to make the system, sometimes known as "mandatory E-Verify," mandatory for all employers.

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