Moody demands Congress fast-track bill granting state power over immigration enforcement

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody demanded U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson and federal lawmakers pass a law granting states more power over immigration enforcement if the federal government lacks action on the matter.

Moody sent a letter to Johnson, the GOP’s new speaker, and was joined by 25 other state attorneys general.

“More than 280 people on the terrorist watchlist have been caught illegally crossing. While that number sounds high, it is likely low in comparison to those who have evaded capture,” Moody said in the letter. “Congress must pass the Immigration Enforcement Partnership Act and allow states to do the job Biden refuses to do—as the terror threat continues to grow—secure the border and protect Americans.”

Her office slammed the Biden administration in reference to over a quarter million migrant encounters occurring in September, and at least seven million since the president took office in 2021.

The Immigration Enforcement Partnership Act was filed multiple times, Moody pointed out. It was most recently introduced earlier this year, though no action was taken on it.

Moody worked with Florida Republican Rep. Bill Posey on the legislation both in 2022 and 2023.

“I like to believe we at least slowed the invasion to some degree,” Moody said. “However, it is becoming clear that the judicial system is not an adequate battlefield to quickly address the urgent crisis Biden has created.”

The attorney general’s office said the bill should at least be given a timely hearing.

“Had Congress acted sooner, the U.S. might not be setting yet another record for CBP encounters at the border,” Moody wrote. “We will never know, but if we take action now to give states the authority to do the job Biden and Mayorkas refuse to do, we could prevent another record next year.”

The other states who signed onto the letter include: Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Moody’s calls for a federal crackdown on illegal immigration come months after stricter Florida legislation took effect this year on the subject.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed new laws in May that mandate E-Verify or similar verification requirements, heightening penalties on human smuggling, and dedicating more funding for migrant transports.