A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s Governor is again arguing that elections in “blue states” could be more fair, while suggesting a Donald Trump policy proposal may be part of the solution.
“I think his immigration policies to repatriate the illegals and close the border will also help because that’s going to make it less likely that those folks will be able to vote,” Ron DeSantis said Sunday on Fox News‘ “Sunday Morning Futures.”
Trump, as he did in 2016, is promising the biggest mass deportation effort in many decades.
“Following the Dwight Eisenhower model, we will carry out the largest domestic deportation operation in American history,” Trump said in the Spring, referencing the infamous “Operation Wetback” program that was a response to concerns under Eisenhower and predecessor Harry Truman that undocumented immigration depressed wages in the Southwest.
DeSantis himself made similar proposals for a “big program” during his failed presidential campaign.
“If you let people come illegally without a sanction, you’re going to continue to have this problem. The sanction is you get deported. So we’re going to do it,” DeSantis said last year during an appearance on The Blaze.
Running against Trump at the time, DeSantis expressed doubt the former President had the gumption to get it done though.
“I’m really the only candidate that you can trust to do it,” DeSantis added. “I mean, I know Donald Trump is promising it, but he said the same thing in 2016 and didn’t deliver on it. A lot of the other Republicans, as you rightfully point out, they’re uncomfortable even talking about doing that. But we’re never going to solve the problem unless we have the rule of law prevail.”
Yet even DeSantis has acknowledged the logistics may be a challenge.
During an interview in the same timeframe with an Iowa radio station, the 2024 presidential candidate ameliorated a previous promise to remove “everyone who has come in illegally under Biden” to “the last ones to come in under Biden are going to be the first ones out.
“Well, here’s the thing. So I don’t know how many are here,” DeSantis admitted.
“We’ve been told for many years, it was like 10, 11 million. But just under Biden, there’s been 6 or 7 million. You can’t say (that) because you’re not going to be able to do 100%, that then you should send none. I mean, I think that that’s a non-starter. You have to establish that there’s going to be a sanction. You have to enforce the law. Clearly, we have limited resources. You’re going to have to make choices as about how you do that.”
By January, though, he was promising to remove 8 million people.
The Governor’s tough talk on illegal immigrants has surfaced often.
Last September, DeSantis also claimed to be “entitled” if President to “send the military to the border and to use deadly force against the Mexican drug cartels” and leave them “stone cold dead,” though it was unclear how he would definitively identify cartel members before preemptive state executions.
“But when somebody’s got a backpack on and they’re breaking through the wall, you know, that’s hostile intent and you have every right to take action under those circumstances. And guess what, you do that a few times, the times are a-changin’, they will have to respond to that,” DeSantis said during a Sept. 12 2023 appearance on the CBS Evening News.
11 comments
MH/Duuuval
September 15, 2024 at 11:05 am
DeSantis ain’t in Iraq anymore, surrounded by combat vets with a vast range of deadly force they can bring to bear if he signals it’s okay.
This dissociative wartime experience seems to have gone to his head.
Frankie M.
September 15, 2024 at 11:11 am
Just what every Navy seal wants…to babysit some desk jockey lawyer lecturing him on the rules of engagement in the middle of a firefight.
Frankie M.
September 15, 2024 at 11:05 am
Yes because illegals are just itching to commit election fraud so they can get locked up & deported…smh. Still waiting on the results of those electoral fraud investigations from 2016.
Tom
September 15, 2024 at 12:26 pm
That’s my take as well. There is no there there but I guess he thinks it makes a useful distraction from his own inability to get anything done that might actually benefit the majority of folks in Florida. Another tiny little man with nothing to offer.
Michael
September 15, 2024 at 11:21 am
It is so easy to google up the actual investigative results in each of the red states where governors like DeSantis caused voter rolls to be inspected for fraudulent voting.
But, let’s make it even easier…here are the cumulative results reported out by the Heritage Foundation…. Finally, in terms of cases that have actually been prosecuted, the conservative Heritage Foundation — which argues there are too many vulnerabilities in the US election system — has documented a total of 25 instances of prosecution for voter fraud in which citizenship was an issue over more than 20 years.
Let’s do the math for those of you who have the acumen to understand…..20 years = 5 Presidential elections….average of about 60 million votes cast = 300 million ballots…..25 possible frauds = .00000008 error rate
MH/Duuuval
September 15, 2024 at 11:40 am
Meanwhile, MAGA/Q folk like Cord Byrd are working the state’s electoral machinery to minimize turnout — the only way for a permanent minority party to win at the polls.
Michael K
September 15, 2024 at 11:57 am
Excellent. Thank you for this.
Facts, logic, and truth are foreign concepts to the MAGAverse.
Ron desperately tries to assume the mantle, but nobody likes the message or the messenger. Just ask Iowa! Just ask disaffected Floridians who are sick of being Project 2025 guinea pigs for Ron’s failed personal ambition.
Rude Eye
September 15, 2024 at 11:23 am
Want fair elections? Ron DeSantis must be expelled first.
TJC
September 15, 2024 at 12:02 pm
It’s all bullshit talk. Florida agriculture needs the labor from undocumented workers, and DeSantis knows that. He talks like a big tough guy, when in fact he is a little man who needs the support of big ag in this state. He’s made no real effort to expel undocumented farm workers, and in fact he had to fly some undocumented families in from Texas just to fly them up north in a big show that was meant to boost his presidential campaign. It’s all talk and nod nod wink wink.
The Sage Elvis [FKA Earl].
September 15, 2024 at 12:05 pm
Good Afternoon America,
You can, One & All, Relax Your Political Sphincters, secure in the knowledge that I, The Sage Elvis [FKA Earl], have been working with President Trump’s Administration on a Massive Operation Code-Named “Operation Ilegal Re-Patriation” to quickly, efficently, and humainly “REPATRIATE” all the Ilegals back to their Nations of Origan.
We will initiate this “All Critical Operation” on “Day One” after President Trump’s Sage and Historical Inaguration.
Thank you America,
The Sage Elvis [FKA Earl].
PeterH
September 15, 2024 at 12:24 pm
These inflammatory statements from hateful Republicans give a green light to ignorant white nationalists to take action. We’re entering into a changed America….. the Statue of Liberty is crying.
Republicans are America’s worst enemy!
Vote all republicans out of office.
Florida’s residents have until October 7th to register to vote.