By james art 
In his first interview as vice president, JD Vance clashed with the Catholic group
Vice President JD Vance slammed the US Conference of Catholic Bishops for criticizing Trump’s immigration policies.
Ahead of a special legislative session called by Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican lawmakers introduced a raft of bills Sunday to crack down on undocumented immigrants and impose further restrictions on the voting process.
The bills would, in part, end in-state tuition at colleges and universities for undocumented immigrant students known as “Dreamers”; placing new requirements on the police to assist in immigration enforcement efforts; and dramatically change the petition process for proposed constitutional amendments.
Sen. Blaise Ingolia, R-Spring Hill, Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, and Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa, had filed 11 bills as of Sunday evening, according to the Senate website. Rep. Mike Caruso, R-Delray Beach, and Rep. John Temple, R-Wildwood, had filed House versions that largely mirrored the Senate bills.
DeSantis called the special session on Jan. 13 because he wants lawmakers to make changes to help implement President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Other issues DeSantis wants lawmakers to consider include making changes to the voting process, providing aid to hurricane victims and addressing issues that have increased costs for condominium associations and residents.
The special session was surrounded by uncertainty, however, as Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, raised objections. Among other things, they said the special session was “premature” and pointed to the start of the regular legislative session on March 4.
DeSantis, however, has made a series of appearances to try to pressure lawmakers to act on the issues — particularly focusing on immigration issues.
While the bills were introduced Sunday, it remained unclear how the special session would proceed. The Senate and House of Representatives are scheduled to convene at 10:30 a.m. Monday, but neither has scheduled committee meetings as of Sunday evening to consider the proposals.
Among the suggestions:
- Martin and Temple have filed bills (SB 20-A and HB 19A) that would repeal a 2014 law that allows undocumented immigrant students to avoid higher out-of-state tuition rates if they meet certain criteria. Albritton proposed phasing out the law, taking into account students who already receive tuition assistance or who make plans to attend less expensive in-state colleges or universities.
- Ingoglia and Caruso filed bills (SB 4-A and HB 9A) that say state law enforcement “shall” support enforcement of federal immigration laws. Currently, state law says agencies must “use their best efforts” to support such enforcement. Also, under the bills, when counties are notified that jailers have immigration detainers, they would be required to transport the inmates to federal facilities or to federal officials.
- Ingoglia and Caruso filed bills (SB 14-A and HB 11A) that would require state and county law enforcement agencies and other police agencies with more than 25 employees to enter into agreements with U.S. Customs and Immigration to participate in a program that allows local officers , to perform certain duties of federal immigration agents. The bills also would give the governor the power to remove from office the head of a law enforcement agency “who, in the judgment of the governor, acts in bad faith and fails to comply with any provision” of the bill.
- Collins and Caruso have introduced bills (SB 18-A and HB 21A) that would change the voting process, including what appears to be an elimination of the use of paid petition gatherers to collect signatures. Voters may request that petition forms be mailed to them by election observers; they could then send back signed petitions. The proposals come after DeSantis led efforts to reject ballot proposals in November that would have enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution and allowed the recreational use of marijuana.
To read the submitted bills, click here.
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