Last Call for 10.25.22 — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics

Last Call — A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

Criminals who entered the country illegally must be deported, Attorney General Ashley Moody is telling the U.S. Supreme Court.

In a brief backing Texas in the Lone Star State’s case against President Joe Biden’s immigration policies, the Republican Attorney General says Congress, not the President, establishes immigration policy. However, Moody says that if criminals are convicted and they are in the country illegally, the Department of Homeland Security is not detaining or deporting the individuals upon their release, as mandated by federal law.

“Biden’s refusal to enforce federal immigration laws passed by Congress is jeopardizing public safety, and as Attorney General, I will continue to fight in court to force this administration to do its job and protect the American people,” Moody said in a news release.

According to the brief, filed Tuesday, Florida spends more than $130 million a year incarcerating roughly 7,000 criminal illegal immigrants. However, DHS has directed immigration officials against following the statute.

“As a result, DHS has authorized immigration officials to violate their duty to arrest criminal aliens when Florida releases them from state custody, which forces Florida to expend resources on supervised release and policing recidivism for criminal aliens who should be in federal custody and removed from the United States,” according to Moody’s brief.

Previously, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas vacated DHS’ directive not to detain or deport certain individuals.

It’s not the first legal case on immigration Florida has gotten involved in under the leadership of Moody and Gov. Ron DeSantis. Moody joined other Republican Attorneys General in the effort to keep Title 42 in place, among other court battles.

Evening Reads

—“Ron DeSantis sticks to script as he dodges question about presidential ambitions” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel

—“Five takeaways from the only Florida Governor debate between DeSantis and Charlie Crist” via Steve Contorno of CNN

—“Former Crist staffers, colleagues endorse DeSantis” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Crist challenges DeSantis to more debates; Governor fundraising off his performance” via Michael Moline of the Florida Phoenix

—“Crist raises $200K off ‘game-changing’ debate performance” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics

—“Joe Biden stands aside as revolt brews against Juan Guaidó in Venezuela” via Michael Wilner and Antonio Maria Delgado of the Miami Herald

—“Ukraine alleges Russian dirty bomb deception at nuke plant” via The Associated Press

—“Democrats, on defense in blue states, brace for a red wave in the House” via Shane Goldmacher of The New York Times

—“Most candidates who think 2020 was rigged are probably going to win in November” via Kaleigh Rogers of FiveThirtyEight

—“Donald Trump’s stolen election lie could cost Republicans in November if voters stay home” via Anna Giaritelli of the Washington Examiner

—“The non-Trump 2024 field starts to make their moves” via Meridith McGraw of POLITICO

—“Politics not mentioned in Hialeah police report after Marco Rubio says GOP canvasser attacked” via Bianca Padró Ocasio, Michelle Marchante, Charles Rabin and Verónica Egui Brito of the Miami Herald

—“Cuban Americans in Miami prefer Donald Trump to DeSantis, and other FIU Cuba poll takeaways” via Nora Gámez Torres of the Miami Herald

—“Why did the Sentinel endorse so many Democrats in 2022?” via the Orlando Sentinel editorial board

Quote of the Day

“Together, we have known Charlie (Crist) in virtually all phases of his career and public life … We unanimously endorse Gov. Ron DeSantis for re-election.”

— 36 former Crist colleagues and staffers.

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