Lawrence McClure stands up to Ron DeSantis over Wilton Simpson in charge of immigration
Rep. Lawrence McClure on House floor Jan. 28 during immigration debate (Florida Channel)

Rep. Lawrence McClure on House floor Jan. 28 during immigration debate (Florida Channel)
McClure, the House bill’s co-sponsor, spoke out Tuesday without naming DeSantis by name.

Rep. Lawrence McClure defended his choice to name Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson as the state’s new chief immigration officer following Gov. Ron DeSantis’ criticism.

McClure was asked why Simpson would be the right fit for the job during late Tuesday afternoon’s debate over the Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy Act — the TRUMP Act.

“I don’t know what the insinuation is. I’ve certainly read the folks that are trying to impugn his character,” McClure said late Tuesday during the debate for HB 1-B. “So why do we pick him? Well, because he’s a good man. Why do we pick his agency? Because they’ve got good people. That’s it.”

His remarks earned a brief round of applause on the House floor.

Earlier in the day, DeSantis attacked Simpson on social media as he complained that Republican lawmakers are pushing watered down immigration reforms.

“It is also the case that the current Commissioner, Wilton Simpson, has voted to give drivers licenses and in-state tuition to illegals. He even refused to oppose allowing illegals to practice law in Florida. Do we want the fox guarding the hen house?” DeSantis wrote on X.

McClure, the House bill’s co-sponsor, spoke out Tuesday without naming DeSantis by name.

“It’s a little shocking to me, quite frankly, to hear the pushback on the Department of Agriculture. I think it’s been said ‘there’s a fox guarding the hen house.’ The comedy of that’s not lost on me seeing as how our Commissioner of Agriculture was an egg farmer not so long ago,” McClure said.

McClure added that in crafting HB 1-B, it makes sense for Simpson to be the new state officer coordinating with the federal government on immigration.

“We looked at Cabinet positions, and we said, ‘Where are their boots on the ground? Where is their law enforcement? Where are there folks that are already engaging in this process?’” McClure said.

Gabrielle Russon

Gabrielle Russon is an award-winning journalist based in Orlando. She covered the business of theme parks for the Orlando Sentinel. Her previous newspaper stops include the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Toledo Blade, Kalamazoo Gazette and Elkhart Truth as well as an internship covering the nation’s capital for the Chicago Tribune. For fun, she runs marathons. She gets her training from chasing a toddler around. Contact her at [email protected] or on Twitter @GabrielleRusson .


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  • Victoria Olson

    January 29, 2025 at 11:47 am

    It starts America & Florida descends to DICKTATORSHIP. Is this what you want for our country? Have you not reviewed Hitler’s rise to power. Both Trump & DeSatan are following the Hitler playbook. If you are not knowledgeable on how Hitler rose to power I suggest to watch a Holocaust movie , god forbid one reads a book. Welcome to the DICTATORSHIP of America, you voted for him, hope your happy.

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