FLORIDA – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced property tax relief for homeowners and a series of immigration enforcement operations during a press conference.
DeSantis previewed a major homestead exemption measure set to go before the Florida Legislature on Monday.
He said property tax collections have nearly doubled in seven years — from $32 billion in 2019 to roughly $60 billion today. Under the proposal, homeowners with properties valued at $250,000 or less would pay zero property taxes. Raising the exemption to $500,000 would eliminate or significantly reduce the burden for about 92% of homeowners.
“We’re going to do right by our people,” DeSantis said, “and then the governments can change and figure out how to get it done from there, rather than always saying government comes first.”
On immigration, DeSantis announced results from three recent operations.
“Because of the state and local involvement, we’ve been able to supplement what DHS is doing by more than 25,000 illegal alien arrests and processing for deportation,” he said. “The state of Florida is safer as a result of these efforts. There is no question in my mind.”
Operation Sandhill Sentinel 9.0, a joint operation involving the Florida Highway Patrol, Broward County Sheriff’s Office, DHS, Homeland Security Investigations, the Florida National Guard, and the Florida State Guard, resulted in 250 arrests targeting repeat immigration violators with criminal histories.
Operation Criminal Return, a 10-day joint FDLE-DHS operation, netted 230 arrests of illegal aliens who are sex offenders, career criminals, and other serious offenders.
Operation Locate, an FDLE initiative, focused on finding unaccompanied migrant children who entered the country during the Biden administration. FDLE Commissioner Mark Glass said more than 400 children have been identified or physically located.
ICE Field Office Director Matt Ellison, who said it was his first day on the job in Florida, summed up the contrast with his previous post simply. “I’ve only ever known the worst of sanctuary jurisdictions,” he said. “To have this level of support is outstanding.”