Larry Keefe, former Florida public safety emperor, has been appointed executive director of the new state immigration executive committee. The board was established as part of a new law aimed at being the strictest in the country regarding immigration, including an increase in fines. It will come days after the passage of the bill, for immigrants who discussed the reporting standards and grant programs for local law enforcement agencies at Keefe’s appointment and the first meeting of the board.
Florida’s GOP leader appointed Larry Keefe as executive director of the new state’s Immigration Executive Committee at an emergency cabinet meeting in Niceville on Monday.
Once North Florida’s best federal prosecutor and state public security emperor, Keefe is deeply involved in the 2022 promotional move to arrange for immigrant flights from the US-Mexican border to the blue state. Ta.
“Last time we were Martha’s vineyards. This time it’s probably Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I don’t know how it will shake, but I know we’re there,” Gov. Ron DeSantis told the meeting. .
After weeks of quarrels between the governor and the Republican-led Congress and three special sessions, two branches of the government came up with a compromise that they had promoted as the “stiffest” law on immigration in the country.
This included the establishment of an Immigration Executive Committee to work closely with the federal government on President Donald Trump’s immigration overhaul and massive deportation.
Keeff, who was the subject of lawsuits and investigations arising from immigrant flights, said the executive director position was “perfect for me.”
“It combines federal, state and local people, letting people work with a big sense of urgency, tear down barriers, and I say I’m looking at each and every one of you. I’m proud of you,” Keefe said.
The law that established a new committee (SB 2C) increased criminal penalties for immigrants entering illegally, requiring registration for what is known as the 287(g) program (cooperation with federal immigration enforcement). was abolished within the state. Undocumented student.
But it also served as a blow to the unauthorized alien transport programme DeSantis and Congress established for immigrant flights. Currently, states are permitted to transport immigrants under federal direction.
Reports show that Desantis originally sought $350 million from his program. The total cost is approximately $300 million.
Still, the board joked about Martha’s vineyards, but members commented on their involvement in migrating from Venezuela to San Antonio, Texas, to Massachusetts.
“I love bragging about Martha’s vineyard flights, but I don’t thank the guy who wrote the check,” said Jimmy Patronis, chief financial officer running for Congress.
“I was actually president, but I raised the budget so I could afford to fly,” said Wilton, an agricultural commissioner who was a Florida senator who approved the original $12 million for the transport program. Simpson added.
At the Cabinet meeting, the governor said that entering the country is a “crime.”
“You can’t say that the free reins are here illegally until you commit a certain felony. I want you to get you out before committing a felony,” DeSantis said.
This is a change since last week when state Sen. Joe Gluters R-Sarasota assured immigrants not to be afraid unless they were “gang bangers, cartel members, bad people.”
“If you’re an uninvited guest and don’t break the law, then no, you shouldn’t worry,” said Gruters, the bill’s sponsor and treasurer for the Republican National Committee.
Snapshots of immigration enforcement in Florida since Trump took office
From January to February 17th, the Florida Highway Patrol detained 83 migrants who illegally entered the country and held criminal records.
Some of the arrested were from Brazil, Colombia and Cuba, said Dave Kerner, director of highway safety and motor vehicle division in Florida. Of the 83 people detained, the federal government was unable to determine which country of origin of 19, he added.
Kerner also said Florida law enforcement agencies have the ability to detain and transport immigrants who have illegally entered ice facilities, whether they have a criminal record or not.
The Florida Department of Law Enforcement has arrested 92 immigrants since Jan. 29, Fdle Commissioner Mark Glass told the panel.
Colonel Roger Young of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Committee said Cuba, Haiti and the Bahamas are not the only people who come illegally and are being intercepted on Florida’s coast. At Coral Gables, 20 Chinese people were arrested for trying to land in Florida, he said.
Before state law, Young said FWC law enforcement must wait for federal agencies. This raised the issue when there was a risk of the ship sinking or overcrowding.
“Now we don’t have to wait to help federal assets arrive,” Young said. “We can transport those individuals for processing, which will increase professional training and additional authority in these cases.”
Young said there has been more maritime support for immigration enforcement since the Trump administration took office, and the agency has said “illegal immigration activities” have been declining.
“I believe it’s because they know that support is there. The defense is there, there’s more threats they have to be caught and the chances they’ll actually make that trip. It’s the lowest,” he said.
On the road, Colonel Lee Adams, agriculture law enforcement agency with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, said cameras will be installed on all highways on the state line.
With the new funding, the department will build a new blocking station at US 231 in Panama City. It serves as the headquarters of law enforcement agencies to monitor roads throughout the state for “potential criminal activity and other threats to public safety.”
The department will also use dogs at blocking stations to sniff out drugs and human trafficking, he said.
Florida Immigration Board: “Don’t waste your time”
The emergency meeting was called just four days after the Florida Legislature, and the governor passed a sweeping immigration bill.
“We’re not wasting anytime,” DeSantis said. “My John Hancock probably isn’t completely dry to sign that bill last week, but we’re still in an emergency meeting because we’re taking it seriously.”
After confirming Keefe as executive director, the board passed two resolutions and began the process of implementing immigration law.
The first was a resolution allowing the executive director to complete emergency rules creation and implement local law enforcement grant programs. This is the majority of SB 2C and awards local law enforcement agencies grants to train and work with federal law enforcement agencies. The second resolution was to develop reporting standards for local law enforcement agencies to ensure that the agency was working with federal immigration authorities. . This includes tracking the capabilities of state and federal detention centers within the state.
Last week in Florida, US immigration and customs enforcement agencies were on track to add 500 beds to detention facilities in a total of 2,000, and 300 more.
Senate Speaker Ben Albritton also named Gualtieri and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd to the newly formed state Immigration and Enforcement Council to advise the board. House Speaker Daniel Perez has appointed Duval County Sheriff TK Waters and Charlotte County Bill Plumel separately.
During the Cabinet meeting, members condemned the Biden administration’s response to immigration enforcement, or lack thereof, as reasons for Florida’s new law. DeSantis took the time to lightly criticize Congress for not acting quickly enough for Trump’s executive order.
“Many Republicans have always been campaigning at immigration and borders for many years, but have not actually reached a conclusion,” he said. “Well, now we’re lining up the stars. President Trump is there. We have a commitment to his administration. Hopefully Congress will do it with appropriate support if necessary. I’ll back it up.”
What’s next?
In a special session last week, Senate Democrat leader Jason Pizzo called for SB 2C to be strengthened with stricter electronic verification requirements for Florida employers.
He argued that the main reason for immigrants entering the state illegally was for employment, but his corrections were shot down. Instead of going to the vote, Senate Republicans said the amendments were “out of scope” of the special session and labeled them in turn.
On Monday, Pizzo said, “Not only a designated number of employees, but not all private employers, as well as all private employers, have submitted the required bill (SB 782) and used the e-verify system. and check the employment qualifications of the new employee.”
“If more than 90% of the wages earned in this state can go to illegal aliens without checks or action, then we’re not serious about fighting illegal immigration,” Pizzo said in a special session last week.
USA Today Network’s State Watchdog Reporter AnaGoñi-Lessan-Florida can visit agonilessan@gannett.com.
