Florida Governor Ron DeSantis strongly rejected Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s criticism of the governor’s robust anti-illegal immigration measures.

On Monday, AMLO commented on legislation that Governor Ron DeSantis would later sign into law on Wednesday. The legislation, described by The New York Times as “the toughest crackdown” on illegal immigration enacted by any state in the United States.

“Why does [DeSantis] have to take advantage of people’s pain, of migrants’ pain, of people’s need for political gain?” AMLO said during a press conference. “This is immoral. This is politicking.”

“Now I found out that the Florida governor — imagine, Florida, which is full of migrants — is taking repressive, inhumane measures against migrants in Florida because he wants to be a candidate,” the Mexican leader added. “Can’t he not make another proposal to convince people?”

The comments come at a time when the U.S.-Mexico border is expected to experience a significant influx of tens of thousands of undocumented immigrants as Title 42 officially expires. AMLO and his government have not done much, if anything, to control the flow of illegal migrants originating in other countries who then traverse Mexico en route to the U.S.

Border towns in states have been grappling with a substantial influx of illegal immigrants throughout President Joe Biden’s tenure in the White House. However, in recent weeks, these areas have witnessed a surge that some officials have characterized as the most severe they have ever encountered, The Daily Wire added.

In his statement, DeSantis strongly criticized the leftist AMLO for the prevailing organized crime in Mexico, which is exacerbating both the issues of illegal immigration and drug crises in the United States.

“President López Obrador should be cracking down on the cartels running his country and fueling our deadly opioid epidemic instead of worrying about what we are doing in Florida,” DeSantis said. “While President Biden may take his cues from leftist foreign leaders, Floridians won’t let their immigration laws be dictated by Mexico City.”

“I’ll never back down from using the full weight of my office to protect the people of Florida by enforcing our immigration laws, and look forward to signing the strongest legislation against illegal immigration in Florida history,” the governor added.

🔥🔥 DeSantis hits back at the Mexican President for attacking his anti-illegal immigration bill:

“President López Obrador should be cracking down on the cartels running his country and fueling our deadly opioid epidemic instead of worrying about what we are doing in Florida.…

— DeSantis War Room 🐊 (@DeSantisWarRoom) May 10, 2023

Per the Daily Wire, the new measure signed by DeSantis:

• Requires employers to use E-Verify to check the employment eligibility of employees, and fines employers who fail to use E-Verify $1,000 per day.
• Suspends licenses of any employer who knowingly employs illegal aliens, and makes using a fake ID to gain employment a felony.
• Enhances penalties for human smuggling, including making knowingly transporting five or more illegal aliens or a single illegal alien minor a second-degree felony subject to a $10,000 fine and up to 15 years in prison.
• Provides $12 million to continue the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program to relocate illegal immigrants to sanctuary jurisdictions.
• Bans local governments and NGOs from issuing identification documents to illegal aliens and invalidates all out-of-state driver licenses issued exclusively to illegal aliens.
• Requires hospitals to collect and report healthcare costs for illegal aliens.

“The Biden Border Crisis has wreaked havoc across the United States and has put Americans in danger,” DeSantis noted as he signed the legislation. “In Florida, we will not stand idly by while the federal government abandons its lawful duties to protect our country.”