Okaloosa County’s State Representative Patt Maney heads to Tallahassee Tuesday for a special legislative session on immigration enforcement, as Gov. Ron DeSantis called the proposed measures “the strongest legislation to enhance interior enforcement” among all states.
- “I’ve read every piece of constituent feedback, every bill line,” Rep. Patt Maney said in a social media post Tuesday morning.
The three-day special session will consider establishing a State Board of Immigration Enforcement comprising Florida’s governor, commissioner of agriculture, attorney general and chief financial officer.
DeSantis said the legislation requires “full participation of state and local law enforcement with the Federal government” and prevents “catch and release” of undocumented immigrants.
The proposed legislation allocates $250 million for grants to support local law enforcement in federal immigration law enforcement, including $1,000 bonuses for officers involved in Homeland Security task force operations.
- “We all have a seat at this table to keep our citizens safe. I am immensely proud to report to Tallahassee today to get things done for my Okaloosa community and the Sunshine State,” Maney said.
Key provisions include mandatory pretrial detention for undocumented immigrants accused of forcible felonies and funding for a new interdiction station in North Florida along the I-10 corridor.
Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez filed a joint proclamation outlining 11 areas of focus, including creating criminal penalties for voting by noncitizens and strengthening identification requirements for interactions with the state.
The proposal would also revise the state’s immigrant transport program to operate only under federal direction with full cost reimbursement to state taxpayers.
