Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got a boost in his bid to fight the Biden administration’s lax enforcement of immigration laws.
A statewide grand jury in Florida recently released a report calling for increased penalties on human traffickers operating in the state. Such penalties were needed to turn back “the rising tide of human smuggling in our state,” the jury said in its report.
“We have concluded that the smuggling of illegal aliens not only endangers Floridians, but also generates huge sums of money for TCOs (transnational criminal organizations) which are used to further a host of criminal activities, notably drug trafficking and human trafficking,” the report noted.
Republican Sheriff Grady Judd and Wayne Ivey, of Polk and Brevard counties, respectively, offered evidence to help the jury reach that finding.
“Additionally,” the report continued, “the illegal aliens being smuggled into and within the state are put into a vulnerable position and are often exploited by criminals. This is particularly troubling when dealing with unaccompanied alien minors.”
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Continuing, jurors added, “While state and local law enforcement agencies have done their best to combat this escalating threat, it is clear that more needs to be done.”
That means beefing up Florida’s human-smuggling laws.
“We believe this issue must be remedied. It is critical to give the statute the force it needs to deter human smuggling in our state and hold accountable those who are engaged in its commission,” the report concluded.
The report was delivered as the state Legislature, each house of which is led by a GOP supermajority prepares for the 2023 session.
Throughout this year, DeSantis and Attorney General Ashley Moody have been fighting the Biden administration over releasing illegal immigrants into the state after failing to secure the border.
As one example, DeSantis this summer flew a planeload of illegals to Martha’s Vineyard, a Democratic stronghold and a self-proclaimed sanctuary city.
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