TALLAHASSEE—After a brutal few weeks rife with party infighting and bruising insults, Gov. Ron DeSantis believes he and the GOP Legislature are poised to finally "land the plane" on immigration policy, he announced Monday.
The hopeful and even conciliatory tone he struck at Monday's Tallahassee press conference was a far cry from his week-long statewide campaign blasting the Legislature. DeSantis had repeatedly called their immigration bill "weak" and "grotesque," even claiming that Republican leaders were trying to sabotage anti-illegal immigration efforts.
But now, after "great discussions," DeSantis is confident that the two branches will be able to patch up the rare rift and "get the job done."
"We've had great discussions. I think we're gonna land the plane, so I don't necessarily have an announcement now, but I'm pretty sure we're going to get there—and I always thought we would," he told reporters after unveiling his budget proposals for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
"I think it was an aberration last week, [but] I do think we're gonna be united on this issue," DeSantis continued, crediting lawmakers for allegedly listening to voters opposed to the TRUMP Act, the immigration bill they passed, and for working with him.
DeSantis's comments followed a Monday morning social media post by Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna, who claimed that the state Legislature was in talks with the governor—which DeSantis all but confirmed.
"I hope they keep immigration authority with the Gov," she wrote. "Hearing the new version is WAY better than the 1.0."
But Sen. Randy Fine, a co-sponsor of the TRUMP Act, told The Floridian he has not spoken with DeSantis and will not until the governor apologizes for calling him and other TRUMP Act supporters RINOs—Republicans in name only.
"I have not [spoken to DeSantis]," Fine said in a text message. "I'll wait for him to apologize for calling us RINOs who want amnesty first."
How did this happen?
If DeSantis and Luna are correct, and a deal is imminent, it would close out one of the most significant internal conflicts DeSantis has faced in office.
At the start of his second term, ahead of his presidential bid, the governor had an iron grip on the legislature. He called a record eight special sessions, slashed legislative funding for combative lawmakers, and easily pushed controversial issues through both chambers.
But no more.
Last week, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez adjourned DeSantis's special session just 15 minutes after it started, killing all his anti-illegal immigration bills. They promptly gaveled in their own session, starring an immigration bill called the TRUMP Act, sponsored by Trump allies and DeSantis critics Fine and Senator Joe Gruters.
Though it passed the Legislature last Tuesday, DeSantis has vowed to veto it once the measure is sent to his desk.
Albritton, Perez, and Gruters did not respond to a request for comment at the time of publishing.
