Ron DeSantis: This Is Why Deporting Illegal Immigrants Is Not 'Punishment'

Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr

JUST IN: DeSantis Explains Why Deporting Illegal Immigrants Is Not ‘Punishment’ During Operation Tidal Wave Briefing

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis defended the state’s aggressive deportation stance at a press conference about Operation Tidal Wave, emphasizing that removing illegal immigrants is not an act of punishment but a lawful response to unauthorized entry.

“Removal is a Consequence, Not a Punishment,” DeSantis Says

Addressing recent legal developments, including a federal court ruling in Miami that temporarily stayed certain enforcement actions, DeSantis made it clear that deportation does not equate to criminal punishment.

“It is not punishment to be removed from this country,” DeSantis said. “If you’re going to be punished, then you get the full panoply of due process. These are not punishments being rendered — it’s the consequence of being here illegally.”

Florida Law vs. Federal Immigration Process

The Governor also responded to criticism over Florida’s approach to immigration enforcement, comparing it to Texas’s more legally challenged model. He insisted that Florida’s legislation was “structured differently” and positioned to withstand legal scrutiny.

“It should be a crime to enter the state of Florida illegally. We have police power to do that. It doesn’t interfere with federal efforts — it actually buttresses them,” DeSantis asserted.

State Readiness for Detention and Support

With Operation Tidal Wave ramping up, DeSantis emphasized Florida’s logistical capability to assist with detention, judicial processing, and transportation of illegal immigrants — provided it aligns with federal approvals.

“We can expand detention space very quickly. Florida has the muscle memory — when hurricanes strike, we set up support hubs for tens of thousands of workers fast. The same emergency infrastructure can help support federal immigration operations.”

DeSantis mentioned that Florida’s emergency management team, led by Kevin Guthrie, is prepared to stand in as a force multiplier for DHS — including deploying National Guard judge advocates as immigration judges and assisting with transport logistics, possibly even to locations like Guantanamo Bay.

Tens of Thousands Already Under Deportation Orders

DeSantis revealed a startling statistic: an estimated 80,000 illegal immigrants already have deportation orders in Florida. He argued that the state has both the operational capacity and the political will to assist in their removal.

“This is what we do. We rescue Floridians from hurricanes, from Israel, from Haiti — we step up when emergencies happen. Illegal immigration is a national emergency, and we’re treating it as such.”

Key Takeaways:

DeSantis rejects claims that deportation is punitive.
Florida stands ready to support federal immigration enforcement with detention, judiciary, and transport resources.
The state may deploy military legal personnel to assist in immigration case processing.
DeSantis says up to 80,000 deportation orders are currently active in Florida.

FAQs: Ron DeSantis on Deportation and Operation Tidal Wave

Q1. What is Operation Tidal Wave in Florida?
Operation Tidal Wave is a state-led initiative launched by Governor Ron DeSantis aimed at identifying, detaining, and deporting illegal immigrants residing in Florida, especially those with existing deportation orders.

Q2. What did Governor DeSantis say about deportation not being a punishment?
Governor DeSantis stated that deportation is a legal consequence of unauthorized entry into the United States, not a criminal punishment. He emphasized that due process applies in criminal cases, not in immigration enforcement.

Q3. How many illegal immigrants are under deportation orders in Florida?
According to Governor DeSantis, an estimated 80,000 individuals in Florida already have active deportation orders.

Q4. Is Florida interfering with federal immigration law?
DeSantis claims that Florida's actions do not interfere with federal immigration efforts but instead support them. He argues that the state has the legal authority to enforce its own laws against illegal entry.

Q5. How is Florida prepared to help with immigration enforcement?
Florida is ready to provide detention facilities, transport support, and even trained National Guard legal personnel to assist as immigration judges, if authorized by the federal government.

Q6. Why is Florida’s law different from Texas's approach?
DeSantis stated that Florida’s law was structured differently to avoid legal pitfalls that Texas encountered, giving him confidence that it will be upheld in court.

Q7. Can Florida build temporary detention facilities quickly?
Yes. DeSantis mentioned that Florida has the infrastructure and emergency management experience to quickly build and staff detention centers, similar to how it responds to hurricanes.

Q8. Is the federal government cooperating with Florida on this initiative?
Governor DeSantis said the state is waiting for sign-off from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on several aspects, including detention and transportation coordination.

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