DeSantis urges Biden administration to resume Trump-era immigration policy

TITUSVILLE, Fla, — Citing a growing concern over the current border crisis and the threat of criminal elements entering the United States illegally, Gov. DeSantis took the current administration’s immigration policy to task.

The governor said he wants criminal aliens who’ve completed their sentences removed from the state and deported by federal authorities.

Something he claims isn’t happening under the current immigration policy.

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“We’ve seen a troubling change in policy with the federal government. It used to be when someone was in our prison system, the federal authorities would have a detainer on them notifying the state this is somebody who is here illegally and subject to removal,” he said.

The governor says the feds aren’t honoring ICE detainers and have essentially halted removals.

Joining the governor at his news conference were Kiyan Michael and her husband whose son was struck and killed by a driver who was unlicensed and in the country illegally.

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“Just weeks earlier he had been stopped by our local law enforcement. They found him to be driving without a driver’s license and they just let him go,” Michael said.

The governor went on to announce that he would push the Biden administration into reinstituting Trump-era immigration policies.

“I’m sending a letter to the Biden administration today, asking them to continue the prior policies. Where you’re taking custody of criminal aliens and removing them, we think that getting rid of the detainers is not good for the safety of Florida communities,” he said.

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In the meantime, DeSantis said he has directed the Florida Department of Corrections to identify all inmates to be released with detainer agreements and pursue all “legal means available” to transfer them to ICE custody.

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