TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ office proposed that state lawmakers give him the extraordinary power to transport migrants living in the country illegally outside the United States, according to a list of proposals legislative leaders say they received from his office last week ahead of his push for a special session at the end of the month. The list also includes a proposition to make it a crime for law enforcement officers and elected officials to fail to fully cooperate with state and federal immigration directives. The proposals, which according to a spokeswoman for the Florida Senate were sent Friday to legislative staff for the Senate and House, are more detailed than the immigration policy ideas DeSantis has publicly released this week as he pushes the Legislature to take action in a Jan. 27 special legislation session to help carry out President-elect Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans. The governor publicly rolled out several immigration proposals on Wednesday. Among them were suggestions that the state program used to fly migrants to Martha’s Vineyard in 2022 be authorized to “facilitate the deportation of illegal aliens” from the country, and that the state create “penalties for non-compliance” with immigration enforcement policies. The governor did not discuss the idea that the program should operate outside of the country or that local officials should face criminal penalties for non-compliance. It’s unclear why the governor has not publicly discussed some of the details in his proposals floated with the House and Senate, which were first reported by Politico Florida. His office did not respond to questions sent Wednesday night. Other proposals made by the governor’s office were released publicly on Wednesday in a news release that contemplated empowering the governor to suspend any elected or appointed officials who refuse to comply with a federal program known as 287g that allows officers to identify immigrants in the country illegally who are booked in county jails. The governor also announced that he wanted to mandate that businesses verify the identity of each person who transfers money to a foreign country and to report each verification to the state. Additionally, he said he wants to refuse bail to all immigrants in the country illegally who are in custody by considering them a flight risk. No legislation backed by the governor’s office has been filed to legislative leaders in the House or Senate, according to Katie Betta, a spokeswoman for Senate President Ben Albritton, and Amelia Angleton, a spokeswoman for House Speaker Daniel Perez. This article may be updated. Check back at tampabay.com.
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