Gov. DeSantis equivocates in ‘Remain in Mexico’ reaction, bashes Joe Biden’s border policy

desantis v biden
‘They’re treating him differently than they treated Trump, which I don’t think is appropriate.’

Gov. Ron DeSantis believes the U.S. Supreme Court may have correctly ruled it constitutional for President Joe Biden to end the federal “Remain in Mexico” policy, but that doesn’t mean he believes they handled it right.

In the last ruling of its term, the Court found 5-4 on Thursday that the Biden administration properly ended the policy, which began under President Donald Trump. The policy, formally known as Migrant Protection Protocols, forces some U.S. asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico. The case explored — because immigration authorities lack the detention capacity to hold asylum-seekers — whether the U.S. could release those migrants into the country or whether authorities must return them to Mexico.

The ruling in the case, Biden v. Texas, marked a win for the Biden administration. The left has suffered multiple losses this term under a bolstered conservative majority, including on abortion on Friday and environmental policy in a case also decided Thursday.

“They made Trump jump through a lot of hoops, and now they’re saying bye, you can just get rid of it. That may actually be what the Constitution (says), but they’re treating him differently than they treated Trump, which I don’t think is appropriate,” DeSantis said.

The Court had authorized, paused, and again authorized the policy under the Trump administration as the policy worked its way through the courts. In August, the Court ordered the Biden administration to reinstate the rule after Texas and Missouri sued over its cancellation.

Chief Justice John Roberts wrote the decision and was joined by fellow conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh as well as the court’s three liberal justices. In a dissenting opinion, conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote she agreed with the majority’s analysis but wanted to send the case back to a lower court to decide a jurisdictional issue.

Just because Biden can now end the policy doesn’t mean it’s a good idea, DeSantis continued.

“If Biden revokes the ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, you’re going to see the worst border crisis in history get even worse, and you’re going to see people flooding across,” the Republican Governor said.

DeSantis said fentanyl has become the leading cause of death for Americans 18-45, referring to findings reported by Families Against Fentanyl.

“That would not be the case if you had a secure border,” DeSantis said.

On Wednesday, the Florida Supreme Court granted the Governor’s request for a grand jury to investigate crimes stemming from illegal immigration, such as human and drug trafficking and gang activity.

“The easiest thing would be for the federal government to just adopt good policies here, but I think we’ve seen over the last year-and-a-half that’s not something that they’re typically prone to do,” DeSantis said.

Renzo Downey

Renzo Downey covers state government for Florida Politics. After graduating from Northwestern University in 2019, Renzo began his reporting career in the Lone Star State, covering state government for the Austin American-Statesman. Shoot Renzo an email at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @RenzoDowney.


10 comments

  • tom palmer

    June 30, 2022 at 5:11 pm

    I think perhaps unequivocal was the word you were looking for. DeSantis don’t want “those people”coming here

  • PeterH

    June 30, 2022 at 5:30 pm

    DeSantis and his ilk are walking on eggshells with MAGA undocumented border crossings. As reported in other media outlets 140,000 Cubans have illegally entered the USA. That number alone exceeds the Mariel Boatlift …. And more Cubans are arriving daily! Additionally, Venezuelans have arrived in the USA from the Mexican border. MAGA Republicans will have to make exceptions…. After all it’s PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY right Rubio and DeSantis? Let’s not rock the voter boat.

    Additionally Republicans would love to blame immigration at the Mexican border on Biden. Too bad Biden doesn’t get to write immigration policies ….NO BIDEN GETS TO ENFORCE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS THAT CONGRESS HAS WRITTEN.

    If the Florida electorate wants strict enforceable immigration policies they need to put pressure on Republican representatives in the House and Senate.

    America’s best chance at immigration reform is to vote Republicans out of office. Join fellow conservatives at the Lincoln Project. In the past five days the Lincoln Project has seen a 35% increase in NEW donations. It’s time to take our Democracy back. Start the process of giving pink slips to obstructionist do-nothing Republicans.

    • Tom

      June 30, 2022 at 7:34 pm

      Crock of Adam Schiff.
      Clueless peter h.
      America’s Gov. is correct.
      Are you immigration and naturalization ? Your stats, what don’t you understand bout “illegal” entry?
      You have a huge backlash coming. It does not matter who comes, and from where. “ Illegal” is illegal. My goodness.
      Texas 34 proved whose correct on illegals.

    • Tom

      June 30, 2022 at 7:34 pm

      Crock of Adam Schiff.
      Clueless peter h.
      America’s Gov. is correct.
      Are you immigration and naturalization ? Your stats, what don’t you understand bout “illegal” entry?
      You have a huge backlash coming. It does not matter who comes, and from where. “ Illegal” is illegal. My goodness.
      Texas 34 proved whose correct on illegals.

  • Andrew T. Linko

    July 1, 2022 at 12:58 am

    I find this very, very, humous. The entire campaign donation list of Ron DeSantis are developers who ONLY use immigrant labor to build Florida, residential and commercial. Yet he and his contributors blame the President for their demand of cheap labor for bigger profits, and the citizens cheer this BS on?

    • Tom

      July 1, 2022 at 10:42 am

      Linko, you loser.
      Another Manchurian loser, you been hiding.

      Peter h use to argue there was no illegal invasion last year. Total moron.
      2.5 million later. 53 perished in truck.
      Biden’s oblivious to everything.

      Apparently, you know all the contractor business’s and their payroll of employees. You idiot.

      You liberals are on the run, DeSantis is playing wipeout. You are going to get crushed! Super majority in Florida with St House and Senate.

      America’s Gov wins bigly, likely catapulted toPOTUS and Marco defeats Dum Dum Demings. New Repub majority, flip 25 to 40 new Congress House seats.
      Enjoy!

  • Andrew

    July 1, 2022 at 11:34 am

    Tom? What is your real name? You hide in social platforms because you cannot debate anyone without name calling, and third grade tactics. Maybe that’s why your fear public education? Remember, before Trump took office, his Las Vegas hotel was investigated and found undocumented workers employed there. They voted for a union to represent themselves, and Trump made sure his NLRB ruled against their efforts for ‘FREEDOM’!

    • Tom

      July 2, 2022 at 1:49 pm

      It’s Tom. You are a moron, what’s your real name jimmy Hoffa the third? I call out your Manchurians daily. I hardly hide. I am the number one conservative advocate on FP. I own it’. I am a FP legend, JD a Dem advocate refers to me as a must read click for FP. I saved FP with real center right advocacy.

      Who do you think you are engaging with. I’m a political scientist, analyst and scholar. I know Congress and the WH.

      You recite the Dem talking points. Memo: Incompetent Biden is potus, Harris is a joke.
      The Dums have destroyed the economy.

      What issue you want to engage in? Biden destroying the economy? Grade F.
      DeSantis saved Florida Grade A.

      Spare me your Trump hate, hotel crap.
      America is fed up with the Biden/Harris/Schumer/Pelosi/AOC/Sanders green no deal.

      You have a shellacking coming. In Florida, DeSantis and Marco win big. Super majorities in legislature. New Repub. majority in Congress, and Senate.

      You can’t play with me. I am the voice of conservatives. DeSantis’s Florida is a rising tide for all. From Govs mansion to Oval WH.

    • Tom

      July 3, 2022 at 11:38 am

      It’s Tom. You are a moron, what’s your real name jimmy Hoffa the third? I call out your Manchurians daily. I hardly hide. I am the number one conservative advocate. I am a FP legend, JD a Dem advocate refers to me as a must read click for FP. I saved FP with real center right advocacy.

      Who do you think you are engaging with. I’m a political scientist, analyst and scholar. I know Congress and the WH.

      You recite the Dem talking points. Memo: Incompetent Biden is potus, Harris is a joke.
      The Dums have destroyed the economy.

      What issue you want to engage in? Biden destroying the economy? Grade F.
      DeSantis saved Florida Grade A.

      Spare me your Trump hate, hotel crap.
      America is fed up with the Biden/Harris/Schumer/Pelosi/AOC/Sanders green no deal.

  • YYep

    July 3, 2022 at 8:17 pm

    How a sting turns into fentanyl beats my way of thinking 🤔

Comments are closed.


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