BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis pressed for closer efforts between federal and local governments to take on immigration issues in Florida during a visit to Hernando County.
The governor spoke at a news conference with Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis and Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco. Also speaking were families affected by crimes committed by undocumented immigrants.
DeSantis said he wants sheriffs and federal officials to work closely to determine who is in the country illegally.
The governor said he understands there are different views on immigration, but he said he didn't know "why, if somebody is here illegally, and they become in our justice system, why we wouldn't want to do everything we can to cooperate with federal authorities so those individuals can be returned to their home countries rather than released, back on the street where, as we've seen, we can have victims in our own community."
Nienhuis said he and his fellow sheriffs want to follow the law, but when dealing with arrests involving people suspected of being in the country illegally, there can be issues if it turns out they are in fact legal.
Nienhuis said Hernando is one of five counties that are now training deputies as ICE agents who can go into the national database and check on their immigration status.
Vicki Lyon, whose daughter was killed in a 2001 DUI crash in Kissimmee involving a driver who was an undocumented immigrant, spoke about her experience.
"My grandchildren should not be without their mother," she said, pointing to her grandson. "My grandson was 14 months old, he has absolutely no memory of his precious mom."
DeSantis also said there need to be laws to prevent communities from declaring themselves sanctuary cities.
"You should not be able just to flaunt federal law," he said.
He said any future crimes committed by someone protected by a sanctuary city "could have, by definition, be prevented."
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