Tallahassee: Florida sued President Joe Biden’s administration, claiming its immigration policy was illegal, and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed an order banning state agencies from helping relocate immigrants undocumented arriving in the state.

The DeSantis order authorized the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Highway Patrol “to detain any plane, bus or other vehicle in the state of Florida reasonably suspected of transporting illegal aliens to Florida from the southwest border.” – if the federal government authorizes it. and state law. The warning that the law must be obeyed likely prevents them from seizing federal aircraft.

He also ordered agencies to collect information on the identity of all immigrants arriving illegally in Florida from the Mexican border and told state agencies not to spend money to help these immigrants unless the law requires it.

Democratic state representative Anna Eskamani criticized DeSantis, saying he was using the immigration issue to score political points with his conservative base instead of focusing on other issues facing the state.

“He’s completely bonkers and just wants to distract ordinary people from real life issues,” she said.

“We have an affordable housing crisis, we have to worry about climate change, we have people who cannot find good paying jobs. There are so many issues around us and that’s what he chooses.

Attorney General Ashley Moody’s lawsuit claims federal immigration policy will cost the state millions of dollars and damage Florida.

“While some arriving migrants have legitimate asylum claims, many do not. Some are gang members and drug traffickers who are exploiting the crisis at the border, as evidenced by the staggering amount of fentanyl seized at the border this year, ”the lawsuit said.

Moody and DeSantis held a press conference in southwest Florida where both strongly condemned Biden on immigration and praised former President Donald Trump’s policies.

“President Biden aids and encourages criminal cartels,” Moody said.

When asked about DeSantis’ lawsuit and order, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said she had not seen the costume.

“Any Republican or any member who wishes to have a constructive conversation about solutions to resolve what we all agree is not a long-term sustainable operational or moral approach to immigration, we are happy to have this conversation,” Psaki said.

DeSantis, seen as a potential 2024 presidential candidate, has been attacking Biden on immigration for months. He sent law enforcement officers from Florida to Texas to help deter illegal border crossings and he and Moody then went to the border and held a press conference to discuss the matter.

PA