Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, alongside Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, issued a strong warning [1] to individuals in the state illegally during a press conference in Winter Haven, Florida, on Wednesday.
The event focused on actions to combat illegal immigration ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Sheriff Judd delivered a clear and direct message to those residing in Florida without legal status: “And I leave with this message: ‘Southbound and down.’ Do it yourself. You can self-deport and avoid a lot of prison sentence, but it’s time. Southbound and down.”
Judd emphasized that cracking down on illegal immigration would play a significant role in reducing crime across the state.
He shared several examples of criminal activity involving illegal immigrants, including cases of murder, DUI manslaughter, and organized theft rings.
“Florida needs to set the example for the other states and support the president [Trump] to get rid of these criminals who are victimizing our people,” Judd stated.
A message from Sheriff Judd – if you are here in Polk County illegally, get ready to go “Southbound and Down.”
#sheriffjudd [4] #polksheriff [5] #gradyjudd [6] #freestateofflorida [7] pic.twitter.com/i2bT4wy1vG [8]— Polk County Sheriff 🚔 Grady Judd (@PolkCoSheriff) January 19, 2025 [9]
Governor DeSantis echoed Judd’s sentiments, expressing his confidence that Trump’s second administration would take decisive action to address the immigration challenges created by the outgoing Biden administration’s policies.
“We in Florida have a sense of urgency to accomplish this mission,” DeSantis said.
“The mission is very simple: We need to end the illegal immigration crisis once and for all in these United States of America.”
Under DeSantis’s leadership, Florida has taken several legal actions against the Biden-Harris administration, including lawsuits challenging its catch-and-release policies at the southern border.
Most recently, the state filed a legal challenge against what it described as the federal government’s refusal to assist in purging noncitizens from voter rolls ahead of the 2024 election.
To further bolster the state’s efforts, DeSantis announced a special legislative session scheduled for the week following Trump’s January 20 inauguration.
The session will focus on funding initiatives to address illegal immigration, including detention and relocation programs.
The governor stressed the importance of removing incentives that attract illegal immigrants to Florida.
DeSantis reaffirmed his commitment to supporting Trump’s immigration agenda, stating, “We don’t have any lingering incentives for people to come into our state illegally.”
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, President-elect Trump expressed gratitude to DeSantis for his proactive measures.
“Hopefully other Governors will follow!” Trump wrote, referencing the special session called to tackle illegal immigration.
Thank you Ron, hopefully other Governors will follow!
Donald Trump Truth Social 11:46 AM EST 01/14/25 pic.twitter.com/Ko97u9T8x0 [10]
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) January 14, 2025 [11]
Florida’s leadership has signaled that it will play a key role in supporting Trump’s broader immigration policies, setting a precedent for other states to follow.
Sheriff Judd’s direct message and DeSantis’s legislative action reflect a coordinated effort to address illegal immigration at both the state and federal levels.
Every sheriff should watch this video of Grady Judd & follow his example on deporting illegal aliens in their respective counties!!!
This man is an American hero!👇 pic.twitter.com/5n0mFlnWfp [12]
— Michelle #AmericaFirst (@MichelleRM68) January 19, 2025 [13]
As Trump prepares to take office, Florida’s tough stance on illegal immigration is positioned to align closely with the incoming administration’s priorities.