Summarize this content to 2000 words in 6 paragraphs Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has lost control of a program that allowed him to fly illegal immigrants across the country.The governor’s Unauthorized Alien Transport Program (UATP) was repealed under an immigration deal agreed upon by DeSantis and Florida Republican legislative leaders. Going forward, any plans to transport illegal immigrants must occur under the “direct control and supervision” of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).Newsweek has contacted DeSantis’s office for comment via email.Why It MattersDeSantis received significant pushback when Florida Republicans rejected his immigration proposals and advanced their own legislative package on January 27. The bill was named the “Tackling & Reforming Unlawful Migration Policy,” or TRUMP Act.DeSantis agreeing to end his plan to fly immigrants out of Florida indicates that the firebrand governor is losing influence with the GOP as he enters his final two years in office.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at the Courtyard by Marriott Nashua on January 19, 2024 in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks to supporters during a campaign rally at the Courtyard by Marriott Nashua on January 19, 2024 in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
What to KnowIn late 2022, DeSantis orchestrated what critics called a political stunt that resulted in dozens of illegal immigrants being flown from Texas to the largely Democratic area of Martha’s Vineyard in Massachusetts, in protest of then President Joe Biden’s immigration policy.Transporting immigrants across the country helped DeSantis gain a national profile amid speculation at the time that he was preparing to challenge President Donald Trump in the 2024 Republican primary.In January, DeSantis called on the GOP-led Florida Legislature to hold a special session to approve proposals he crafted to support Trump’s immigration plans put in place for his second term in the White House.Among the proposals was an expansion of UATP to “facilitate the deportation of illegal aliens” outside the U.S. DeSantis suggested the expanded program could be used to send immigrants to the Guantánamo Bay detention camp in Cuba, according to theMiami New Times.Florida Republicans rejected DeSantis’ special legislation and instead advanced their own immigration bills, largely dismissing the governor’s proposals.An agreement on an immigration deal has now been reached between DeSantis and the Florida Legislature following a period of tension and pushback that the governor had not previously experienced during his six years in office.As part of the negotiations, the UATP program was largely scrapped and will fully expire in June 2027.If any transportation of immigrants does occur, it must be approved and controlled by ICE, and the state will reimburse taxpayers for the costs.In a memo to legislators, Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton said the negotiated immigration policy replaces UATP with a new program where the transport of “illegal aliens is done only at the direction of the federal government.”Additionally, the revised bill eliminates the Florida Legislature’s proposal to make Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, seen as a potential 2026 gubernatorial candidate, the state’s chief immigration officer.Instead, the new bill proposes creating a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, comprising the governor, the commissioner of agriculture, the attorney general and the chief financial officer. All decisions must be approved unanimously, according to the memo.In a video posted on social media on January 27, DeSantis suggested giving immigration authority to Simpson was akin to putting a “fox in charge of the henhouse,” implying that farmers rely on the cheap labor of illegal immigrants.What People Are SayingFlorida State Senator Joe Gruters speaking to reporters about UATP: “[The transport program] was all set up under President Biden. President Biden’s gone. We’re not going to have that issue anymore. We have these open borders. President Trump has already closed the borders. There’s no need for political-type events like that anymore, so it’s completely irrelevant now.”Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in a Monday statement: “With the enactment of these policies, Florida will help the Trump administration deliver on the president’s historic mandate to end illegal immigration. This is a big win for the people of Florida and demonstrates that we will continue to lead.”Florida House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton in their memo: “We are proud that over the last few weeks, conversations and debate within the Legislature on these issues have been civil and respectful. By working together with the governor toward a shared goal, these proposals and appropriations ensure Florida continues to lead by example with the strongest crackdown on illegal immigration in the nation.”What Happens NextThe new immigration bills are expected to be approved by the Florida House and Senate on Thursday.DeSantis is set to leave office in January 2027, as the Florida Constitution bars him from seeking a third consecutive term as governor.
