Ron DeSantis has called for a statewide grand jury investigate illegal immigration issues and sanctuary cities aiding human traffickers was approved by the Florida Supreme Court.
On Wednesday, the Florida Court granted the governor’s request, which seeks to alleviate dangerous activity performed by illegal immigrant and trafficking networks.
The grand jury will probe “parents, guardians or other family members of unaccompanied alien children who have conspired with transnational criminal organizations or other illicit actors to smuggle, and thus endanger, their children.”
It will also investigate various criminal organizations in Florida, “their members, or other illicit actors who smuggle or traffic unaccompanied alien children or other illegal aliens to Florida.”
Florida’s Supreme Court said the year-long grand jury has the “jurisdiction throughout the state of Florida, to investigate crime, return indictments, make presentments and otherwise perform all functions of (a) grand jury with regard to the offenses” listed in the order.
DeSantis announced his plans to investigate traffickers last week at a press conference with law enforcement in Pensacola. “He also signed into law a bill that would require county jails to assist federal agents with immigration enforcement and prohibit state and local governments from doing business with contractors who bring into Florida people who are in the U.S. illegally,” the Associated Press reported.
Gov. DeSantis explained the purpose behind the investigation. “We aren’t a border state. People are wondering, ‘Why are you doing this? People will say, ‘Let Texas or Arizona worry about that.’ Let me tell you, people trying to come in illegally are trying to get to Florida.”
The grand jury will target its investigation into parents who hire professional smugglers to bring their non-citizen children into the state.
In 2019, DeSantis banned sanctuary cities across the state but a federal judge blocked the decision from being enforceable.
The Governor sent a firm warning to illegal immigrants back in April:
“To those who have entered the country illegally, fair warning: do not come to Florida. Life will not be easy for you, because we are obligated to uphold the immigration laws of this country, even if our federal government and other states won’t. Florida is not a sanctuary state, and our social programs are designed to serve the citizens of our state. The governor will protect the sovereignty of the state of Florida. If you have come here illegally, you have been done a great disservice by the Biden administration.”
Stay tuned to National File for any updates.
Reporting from National File.
