Florida Legislature Goes Full 'RINO,' Turns on DeSantis with 'Bait-and-Switch' Move

For the past several years, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has been a driving force for conservatism in the Sunshine State, with the Republican-controlled legislature reluctantly following his lead.

Despite DeSantis’ success in transforming Florida from a purple battleground state into a solidly red one in terms of voting patterns, the state’s deeply embedded uni-party establishment remains an obstacle—an issue common to many Republican-controlled states.

Most recently, DeSantis called for a special legislative session to support President Donald Trump’s immigration and mass deportation efforts. However, instead of advancing meaningful immigration reforms, Florida’s Republican establishment adjourned on Monday and initiated their own special session to weaken immigration enforcement in the state.

The legislature introduced a bill called the TRUMP Act, which appointed Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson as Florida’s chief immigration officer. Even more troubling, the bill failed to give local and state law enforcement significant authority to aid in immigration enforcement.

“By giving enforcement power to the agricultural arm of state government, it ensures that enforcement never actually occurs,” DeSantis posted on social media. “In short, it puts the fox in charge of the hen house.”

DeSantis further criticized the legislation for “unconstitutionally” shifting law enforcement authority from the governor’s office to a lower-level cabinet agency. He warned that this agency’s stakeholders “often oppose enforcement measures.”

“The Legislature’s bill is a bait-and-switch tactic trying to create the illusion of an illegal immigration crackdown, when it does anything but,” DeSantis wrote. “It is an insult to name such a weak bill after President Trump, who has been so strong on this issue.”

The decision to name this watered-down bill the TRUMP Act, in particular, was viewed as a cynical attempt to signal to voters that lawmakers were addressing immigration, while in reality undermining the very policies Floridians support.

Daniel Horowitz, a commentator for The Blaze, echoed this sentiment, calling such tactics an example of why “so many Republican voters have become jaded with the party.”

Rather than advancing the strong immigration agenda Floridians have clearly supported, Florida Republican Senate President Ben Albritton is “working with the open borders lobby to undermine the best opportunity to end illegal immigration once and for all,” Horowitz warned.

Adding to the controversy, the TRUMP Act included a provision to create “more beds” for criminal illegal aliens. Christina Pushaw, a top aide to DeSantis, was quick to call this out.

“Why does it sound like these legislators’ priority is to ensure Florida pays for more beds to comfortably house illegal aliens here?” Pushaw asked. “We voted for MASS DEPORTATIONS.”

Lake County Republican Commissioner Anthony Sabatini also blasted the state legislature, labeling the bill a “FAKE immigration bill” that diluted the DeSantis agenda “to nearly nothing” while putting “pro-illegal immigration” Simpson in charge of enforcement.

While Florida may not experience the blatant actions of establishment Republicans as often as other red states, this latest showdown shows that the swamp still needs draining in Tallahassee.

It’s a stark reminder that Democrats are not always the primary challenge.

Sometimes, the real enemy comes from within the Republican establishment itself.

Even worse, these establishment Republicans often disguise their subversion with a veneer of conservatism, attempting to mislead voters with hollow promises.

This underscores the need for conservatives in Florida—and across the nation—to remain vigilant and hold their leaders accountable.