TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — During day two of Florida’s special session, the House returned with a bill that did not meet Governor DeSantis’s expectations.
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State Rep. Mike Caruso from Palm Beach County spoke with WFTV’s Greg Warmoth.
“Do you think the governor will or should veto it?”
“The Governor should absolutly veto, if HB1 goes through as it is, he should definitely veto it,” Rep. Caruso said. “Here’s why he should veto it, because it’s a facade, it’s a facade to the people of Florida. It’s a facade that they are really trying to look they are doing something on immigration and they not.”
Legislators have spent two days in special session and seen three versions of House Bill 1 in Tallahassee.
Lawmakers entered today’s special session with a bill that Governor DeSantis said would not solve immigration issues.
The overwhelming negative feedback from the voters obviously forced a change in course.
The bill, even with these proposed changes, though, is weak, weak, weak.
We need strong policies that will ensure that local and state agencies are actively assisting with interior enforcement efforts of the Trump administration.
Half-measures won’t suffice.
— @GovRonDeSantis
Republicans like Caruso had already decided to vote down the proposed house bill, calling it a boondoggle.
Like many in his party, they want laws aligned with President Trump’s federal immigration orders, like a mandatory death penalty for any illegal who commits capital crimes, including murder, sentencing enhancements for unlawful immigrant gangs, and creating a bonus program for officers who assist ice.
All changes created a discussion on the floor of the House.
Outside the chambers, activists said there was already too much in the bill that would hurt undocumented workers in Florida who don’t commit crimes and are here working, going to school, and spending their Sundays in church.
“If we see state law trying to enforce federal immigration law it’s going to result in making us less safe and civil right’s violations,” said Attorney Paul Chavez.
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