'Strongly agree': Major law enforcement group lines up behind DeSantis and Trump

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got an assist from a leading law enforcement organization as his push to see through a sweeping illegal immigration package in his state is being met with resistance – including from Republicans.

The Florida Sheriffs Association on Tuesday threw its support to DeSantis and President Donald Trump, who have both placed illegal immigration at the top of their legislative priorities list.

“Removing illegal immigrants who commit crimes in our Florida communities is an issue that affects all of us, and we are grateful that the Governor and the Legislature were willing to address it immediately,” Charlotte County Sheriff Bill Prummell, who also serves as organization president, said in a statement. “The Sheriffs of Florida strongly agree on the importance of assisting President Trump and ICE in accomplishing this vision quickly.”

Prummell added that the Florida Legislature has “worked closely” with the longtime sheriff's organization for decades “to ensure our concerns are heard so we have the tools we need to effectively and efficiently remove criminal aliens from our communities across the State of Florida, thus protecting Floridians and visitors of our great State. We are thankful for their support.”

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The development comes as DeSantis has been engaged in a showdown with GOP leaders in the Florida Legislature over their conflicting views on immigration. The governor on Monday called lawmakers’ threat to rip him of immigration enforcement powers “bizarre.”

That followed DeSantis’ own threat to state lawmakers last week when he warned them, “It would be very, very hazardous politically” if they rebuffed his legislative demand.

NBC News national politics reporter Matt Dixon told his followers on X Tuesday that the FSA coming out to back DeSantis is a “pretty big deal.” He added that the sheriff’s organization is a “powerful group that aligns with Republicans, and has done a lot with DeSantis over the years.”