DeSantis decries ‘lawless’ policy

Vows to fight Biden’s refusal to deport convicted criminals who had been in US illegally

Gov. Ron DeSantis announced steps to fight the Biden administration’s refusal to immediately deport convicted criminals who had been in the United States illegally.

The Biden administration rescinded the Trump policy of immediately deporting immigrants in the country illegally who had completed prison sentences for various crimes. Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody sued the federal government last month over the change.

“We’re going to work hard to keep Florida communities safe,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Titusville, where he was joined by family members of people killed by released criminals who had been in the United States illegally. “These are convicted felons who are here illegally. If you can’t remove them, then what do you have, just a complete lawless system and a completely open border? I don’t think any of us want that.”

Citing the need to focus resources where they were most needed, the Biden administration said it would concentrate on deporting those convicted of the most serious crimes, such as offenses involving national security, aggravated felonies or gang activity.

DeSantis said he would send the administration a letter Thursday opposing the policy, direct the state prison system to try to get the federal government to take custody of inmates released in the future and notify local law enforcement of any the federal government refuses to accept.

“Over the next 30 days as many as 50 criminal aliens are set to complete their Florida prison terms, subject to detainers by Immigration and Custom Enforcement,” DeSantis said. “That number could rise to over 200 felons within six months.”