Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has issued a strong message to individuals residing in Florida without legal authorization, advising them to leave the state before President-elect Trump's inauguration. During a Wednesday press conference in Winter Haven, Sheriff Judd, alongside Governor Ron DeSantis and other officials, emphasized the importance of addressing illegal immigration to curb crime. He stated, "It's time. Southbound and down. Do it yourself. You can self-deport and avoid significant prison time." Sheriff Judd underscored the need for Florida to lead the way in supporting President Trump's efforts to remove individuals he characterized as criminals who are harming Floridians.
Judd presented examples of crimes allegedly committed by undocumented immigrants, including murder, DUI manslaughter, and organized theft. Governor DeSantis expressed confidence in the incoming Trump administration's commitment to reversing the Biden administration's immigration policies, stating, "We in Florida have a sense of urgency… We need to end the illegal immigration crisis once and for all in these United States of America." DeSantis highlighted Florida's legal challenges against the Biden administration regarding border policies and voter rolls. He announced a special legislative session following Trump's January 20th inauguration to secure funding for initiatives like detention and relocation of undocumented immigrants, aiming to align with Trump's immigration goals and eliminate incentives for illegal immigration. Trump acknowledged DeSantis's efforts on social media, expressing hope that other governors would follow suit.
