Ron DeSantis flies to Palm Beach the day of immigration enforcement push

Ron DeSantis flew from Tallahassee to Palm Beach on May 12, 2026, then completed a brief 15-minute local flight within Palm Beach International Airport aboard the state-owned Cessna Citation Latitude N943FL. The short hop, recorded at a ground speed of 95 knots, likely repositioned the aircraft after the governor's earlier arrival.

The same day, DeSantis held a press conference in Tampa announcing that more than 100 Florida Highway Patrol troopers have been sworn in as special deputy U.S. Marshals, enabling them to conduct immigration operations independently of the federal government, per FOX13 Tampa Bay. He also addressed the potential closure of the Alligator Alcatraz detention facility, telling reporters in Lakeland that discussions with DHS about shuttering the site were underway, as covered by the Miami Herald.

The trip continues a pattern of frequent state-aircraft travel for official business. Recent flights show DeSantis shuttling between Tallahassee and cities like Jacksonville, Naples, and Miami, often for immigration-related events or meetings with federal officials.