TALLAHASSEE, Fla, Jan 30, (AP): Florida Gov Ron DeSantis promised to veto a sweeping immigration bill on Wednesday in the latest escalation of a statehouse showdown with Republican legislative leaders over whose proposals would best carry out President Donald Trump ’s immigration crackdown. The bill allocates half a billion dollars to beefing up state and local coordination with federal law enforcement.

It would mean enhanced criminal penalties for immigrants without legal permission who commit crimes in the US. In a challenge to the term-limited governor who has leveraged his executive power like no other Florida leader in recent memory, the bill cedes DeSantis’ oversight authority on immigration procedures and grants it to the state’s agriculture commissioner.

DeSantis has lambasted the move as putting the "fox in charge of the hen house" and has railed against the bill and its supporters on cable news and social media. The morning after the measure was passed, DeSantis pledged to veto the bill, which he criticized as "watered-down.” It had not been sent to the governor's office as of Wednesday afternoon.

"We must have the strongest law in the nation on immigration enforcement. We cannot be weak,” DeSantis posted on X. "The veto pen is ready.” DeSantis held two roundtable events Wednesday where he claimed the bill makes Florida a "de facto sanctuary state,” accused Republican leaders of siding with Democrats on immigration, and said conservative voters have every right to "sock it” to their elected representatives if they don't like the bill. "How could I possibly sign something that is contrary to everything I’ve campaigned on?" DeSantis told reporters in Ft. Myers.

Now the question is whether the Republican-dominated legislature can drum up enough support to override the veto, after some GOP lawmakers voted against the measure. Rep. John Temple wrote on X that he regretted his yes vote the previous evening. He said he won't support his Republican colleagues in overriding the veto, if DeSantis does veto it.