FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida attorney general issued warnings to anyone who decides to follow the example in Los Angeles amid their ongoing push for immigration law enforcement.
In a message on X Tuesday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier addressed Broward County Sheriff Gregory Tony in a more cordial tone after a tense letter exchange on Monday.
“Thank you, Sheriff Tony, for reversing course and committing to work with the state and ICE to enforce our immigration laws,” Uthmeier wrote on X.
DeSantis issued his warning during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday in Tallahassee.
“The minute you cross into attacking law enforcement, any type of rioting, any vandalism, looting, just be prepared to have the law come down on you,” DeSantis said.
DeSantis’s statement was made in contrast with the public spat between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and President Donald Trump as the two disagreed on the deployment of the California National Guard to the protest in Los Angeles.
“The anti-ICE chaos in the streets of Los Angeles, CA will not happen here,” Uthmeier wrote on X. “If state, county, or local officials don’t uphold the law, we will hold them accountable under the law.”
Uthmeier’s letter exchange with Tony stemmed from remarks during a budget workshop with Broward County commissioners on June 3.
“We have other priorities in this community that we’re focused on and immigration is not one of them,” Tony said as he presented his $1.5 billion proposed budget.
Uthmeier sent Tony a letter on Monday.
“I would hope your statements were mere political posturing, but if not, your expressed positions would constitute a failure of your statutory obligation to utilize best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law,” Uthmeier wrote.
Tony was quick to respond.
“It is BSO’s priority to address criminal activity within our community, including crimes committed by unauthorized aliens, and to work with our federal partners in this endeavor,” Tony wrote.
Complete coverage
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.