FORT MYERS, FLORIDA — Governor Ron DeSantis did not hold back in expressing his repugnance for three illegal immigrants arrested for looting an unoccupied building in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
“If I could, I would take those three looters, I’d drag them out by the collars and send them back to where they came from,” DeSantis told reporters on Tuesday.
The response drew cheers and applause from many in the audience.
“These are people that are foreigners, they’re illegally in our country, but not only that, they try to loot and ransack in the aftermath of a natural disaster,” the governor continued. “They should be prosecuted, but they need to be sent back to their home country. They should not be here at all.”
LOOTERS HAVE BEEN WARNED
Last week, the governor issued a public warning to anyone who might consider taking advantage of areas impacted by the hurricane. Beyond the threat of being arrested by police, DeSantis warned would-be criminals of the homeowners themselves.
“I can tell you, in the state of Florida, you may never know what is lurking behind someone’s home. I would not want to chance that given we’re a Second Amendment state,” he said.
“YOU’LL BE CARRIED OUT”
Speaking at a press conference, Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno echoed the governor’s sentiment about upholding the law and protecting the homes and property of residents.
"I'm not playing. We're not playing. We have law and order and great residents will be safe and secure. We've had arrests on these incidents," Marceno said. "You might walk in. You'll be carried out."
