After weeks of discord, Florida Republicans craft Trump-focused immigration legislation – NBC News
ProfileSectionsLocaltvFeaturedMore From NBCFollow NBC News news AlertsThere are no new alerts at this timeTALLAHASSEE, Fla. — After weeks of war between Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and leaders of his own party, state Republicans have reached a deal on new legislation to help implement President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda.The negotiations led to DeSantis keeping more immigration authority than was originally proposed by Republicans in the state Legislature, but he also had to make concessions as part of the deal — something DeSantis has not had to do during his six years in office, as a compliant Legislature generally handed him everything he had asked for before his 2024 presidential campaign.The fight in Florida was among the first among Republican-led states trying to align their laws with Trump’s series of immigration enforcement changes, many of which have come via executive order.Trump was engaged in the first round of negotiations over the state bill in Florida last month, but he did not lobby either side directly as the final deal came into form, according to two sources familiar with his thinking. The deal requires pretrial detention for those who are undocumented and commit “forcible felonies”; creates enhanced penalties for undocumented immigrants who commit certain crimes; ends in-state tuition breaks for undocumented students at Florida universities; includes funding for a new “interdiction center” in North Florida to “curb illegal immigration”; and creates a grant program for local law enforcement officials who take training to help them better perform duties historically reserved for federal immigration authorities. Republicans in Florida have universally agreed they want to follow Trump’s lead on immigration, but an intra-party turf war between DeSantis and the state Legislature’s two Republican leaders, state House Speaker Danny Perez and state Senate President Ben Albritton, made for a messy negotiation process. Republicans in the Florida Legislature have wanted to reassert their independence after DeSantis’ failed presidential run, and they used the immigration fight as their first attempt to signal to him that he no longer has a totally compliant Legislature.During a special session last month, Republican-proposed legislation would have stripped DeSantis of all immigration authority, instead handing it to state Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, who openly fought with DeSantis’ office and faced withering social media criticism from DeSantis supporters who said he was trying to build his own political profile. Simpson is rumored to be among the candidates who will seek the governorship in 2026.Under the new deal now likely to pass on Thursday, neither DeSantis nor Republican lawmakers get everything they want. The new plan creates a state Board of Immigration Enforcement, which includes DeSantis, Simpson and Florida’s chief financial officer and attorney general. The move keeps Simpson in the immigration conversations but functionally keeps DeSantis in control. Both the CFO and attorney general positions in the state are currently vacant and will be filled by DeSantis appointees, meaning he will effectively control three of the four board votes. Board votes must be unanimous, which gives Simpson veto power, but as someone who wants to run for governor, it could be difficult for him to vote against DeSantis and his allies on immigration issues closely watched by the Republican political base. His position on the board does mean he will have to be briefed and be involved in most administration immigration decisions. “It’s a win for Simpson, I guess, kind of,” said a source familiar with DeSantis’ thinking. “But let him vote against us on immigration issues and see how it goes.”The composition of the new board does give DeSantis leverage, but the bill also removes the governor’s unilateral authority to control a migrant transport program that DeSantis used to build his national political profile. DeSantis used the controversial program to ship undocumented residents in Florida to blue-leaning cities, including Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, a move that was garnered attention nationally.Under the deal his office agreed, DeSantis could no longer use the program without an explicit request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Trump administration.The negotiated deal also sunsets the program in 2027, the year after DeSantis leaves office. It’s a direct signal from Republican leaders that they do not approve of the program. The governor is facing term limits and can not seek re-election.Despite weeks of tension, both Republican legislative leaders and DeSantis framed the new legislation as a win, and used the moment to project a moment of unity.“All in all I think this is really strong, I commend the Legislature for stepping up to the plate,” DeSantis said Monday night when the negotiated deal was announced.Perez, the Florida Republican House speaker, had been the biggest vocal critic of DeSantis after the first round of negotiations fell apart, but has also now blessed the new deal.“Our commitment to leading the nation in immigration enforcement is strengthened by the cooperation and input of @GovRonDesantis and @WiltonSimpson,” he posted on X Monday night.He said the plan was the product of working “hand-in-hand with the White House.”There was a general feeling among Florida Republicans that they had to get an immigration deal in a state Trump won by nearly 15 points in 2024. But the fight between DeSantis and other Republican leaders is not done yet.The state’s formal legislative session begins in early March, and there are already signs Republican lawmakers will be more aggressive.Hours after the immigration deal was introduced by lawmakers, the Perez-led state House was scheduled to hold unprecedented meetings to reconsider past budget vetoes made by DeSantis, a clear signal that legislators plan to give the governor’s power over the budget and state politics renewed scrutiny.Matt Dixon is a senior national politics reporter for NBC News, based in Florida.© 2025 NBCUniversal Media, LLC
