During a press conference on Monday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis slammed the H-1B program that has facilitated companies bringing in foreign laborers to the US. Disney, and others have been documented as replacing American workers with foreign hires. H-1B work visas have been part of a national conversation surrounding legal immigration policy.
DeSantis brought up his issues with some of the legal immigration programs, including the H-1B visa program, when he announced a special legislative session to address illegal immigration in Florida at Trump takes office.
Governor DeSantis goes off on H-1B visa program:
“Companies will bring in H-1B [workers], the Americans train the H-1B, and then they fire the Americans and hire the H-1B. How would that even remotely be acceptable?”
pic.twitter.com/aaEYaCADOY— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 13, 2025
“We’ve got some big problems with some of of the legal immigration programs that we have. We’ve seen this H-1B program, how companies will bring in H-1B [workers], the Americans train the H-1B, and then they fire the Americans and hire the H-1B. How would that even remotely be acceptable?”
Ron DeSantis calls for a special legislative session in Florida to enforce immigration policies of the incoming Trump administration.pic.twitter.com/PDpCQBdqGB
— The Post Millennial (@TPostMillennial) January 13, 2025
DeSantis also sounded off on what he called “chain immigration,” or when immigrants come into the United States following their relatives who have already made the journey.
DeSantis added that there should be limits on some of the immigration programs such as H-1B as well as H-2A visa programs.
Additionally, with respect to immigration laws already on the books, DeSantis said that he may suspend public officials who do not enforce immigration laws from the federal government as necessary, per First Coast News. “I have the authority, with respect to certain officials, to suspend them from office if they are neglecting their duties,” he said.
DeSantis emphasized that there will be a “sea change” in immigration policy as Trump takes office, and that Florida needs to be prepared to “get it right.”
