Calling them "unwise," "unjust," and "unconstitutional," Florida Gov Ron DeSantis vowed to fight any COVID-19 travel restrictions to or from his state.
McClatchy newspapers' Washington, D.C., bureau reported that outbreaks of the new coronavirus variants have sparked a review by the Biden administration of potential domestic travel restrictions.
No particular state is being targeted by the White House. However, officials are reviewing how to prevent the spread of variants that appear to be surging in multiple states, including Florida and California.
But any suggestion of including Florida in potential travel restrictions received a strong pushback from DeSantis on Thursday, according to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.
"I think it would be unconstitutional," DeSantis, a Republican, said during a news briefing in Port Charlotte, Florida. "I think it would be unwise and it would be unjust. Any attempt to restrict or lockdown Florida would be an attack on our state done particularly for political purposes. We will not back down. If anyone tries to target us we will respond swiftly."
He said he opposes restricting the right of Americans to travel freely throughout the U.S. while allowing illegal immigrants to pour across the southern border.
Jeffrey Rodack ✉
Jeffrey Rodack, who has nearly a half century in news as a senior editor and city editor for national and local publications, has covered politics for Newsmax for nearly seven years.
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