In a heated exchange on Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis found himself at odds with a reporter over the contentious issue of illegal immigration.
The confrontation arose during a discussion about Operation Tidal Wave, a collaborative effort between Florida and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that led to the apprehension of over 1,100 illegal immigrants. The Republican governor was quick to defend the operation when a reporter from Florida's WSVN suggested that ICE's work was "a little sloppy," implying that American citizens were being mistakenly deported.
"You seem to have no sympathy for people that have been victimized by illegal aliens," DeSantis retorted, challenging the reporter's stance. He further questioned the validity of her claims, stating, "I'll let ICE handle that accusation that you're making that they're deporting American citizens who are showing birth certificates and all that. I don't believe that that's true, but I'll let them respond to that."
As reported by Fox News, DeSantis did not shy away from highlighting the broader implications of illegal immigration, particularly under the current administration. He pointedly criticized the federal government's approach, saying, "What about people -- you have someone driving drunk and kills [an] American citizen. What about people that have been deported previously and let in under Biden, who then commit sexual offenses or commit homicides?" DeSantis emphasized the harm caused by illegal immigration, citing the presence of criminal elements like the Tren de Aragua gang as a direct threat to public safety.
The governor's remarks underscored his commitment to prioritizing the safety and well-being of Florida's citizens. "So let's just be clear. Who are you fighting for?" he asked rhetorically. "We're fighting for the citizens of Florida. We want them to be able to live in a society that upholds the rule of law. We want them to be able to live in a state that is safe, and we have to take action on it."
DeSantis also took the opportunity to critique the Biden administration's immigration policies, which he perceives as overly permissive. "The notion that somehow this is America, therefore we're supposed to have an open border? We're not supposed to enforce immigration laws, we're supposed to just sit on our hands? When Biden let in 7 or 8 million people illegally into the country? No, that is not responsible," he asserted. "That is not what our citizens elected us to do."
In his concluding remarks, DeSantis dismissed what he described as "fake narratives" surrounding immigration enforcement, reinforcing his stance that the state's actions are aligned with the expectations of its residents. His comments reflect a broader conservative perspective that emphasizes the importance of law enforcement and border security as fundamental to maintaining national integrity and public safety.
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