Statements from Florida Senate President and House Speaker

DeSantis Calls Special Session on Jan. 27 for Trump's Mass Deportations Amid Legislative Pushback

Jan 13, 2025, 09:00 PM

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has called for a special legislative session starting January 27 to align state policies with President-elect Donald Trump's anticipated immigration crackdown. DeSantis aims to ensure that state and local officials in Florida actively facilitate Trump's deportation policies, which he says were mandated by the American electorate. The session will also address other issues such as hurricane relief, condominium safety, and reforming the petition and amendment process. However, Florida's legislative leaders, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez, have criticized the call for the session as 'premature' and 'irresponsible,' arguing that it lacks specific details and could potentially hinder Trump's efforts to implement mass deportations. They assert that the Legislature, not the Governor, should decide when and what legislation to consider, and they are prepared to act once they receive clear guidance from the incoming administration following Trump's inauguration.