DeSantis Cancels Orlando News Conference Due to Severe Weather

ORLANDO, Fla. — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has canceled a planned news conference in Orlando that was scheduled for Wednesday morning due to severe weather conditions. The Governor’s Press Office announced the cancellation early on February 19, 2025.

Originally intended to take place at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement‘s Regional Operations Center in downtown Orlando, the news conference was set to begin at 10 a.m. along with the attendance of several state officials. Details regarding a rescheduled date have yet to be announced, as officials indicated they will prioritize determining a new time shortly.

In related developments earlier in the day, DeSantis signed agreements allowing various state law enforcement agencies to collaborate with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in immigration enforcement efforts. These agreements involve the Florida State Guard, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Department of Agriculture, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which aim to augment local and state capabilities in detaining and interrogating illegal immigrants.

“Now that 287 is being revived, we have the ability to receive delegation for our state and local law enforcement officers to perform specified immigration officer functions under the agency’s direction and oversight,” DeSantis said during a news conference in the Florida Capitol Building. “…I don’t think there’s any state that’s even in the ballpark of doing what Florida has done so far.”

This announcement follows DeSantis’s commitment to leading Florida’s initiatives aligning various law enforcement bodies on immigration enforcement. The governor highlighted that these efforts are essential in ensuring public safety by identifying and removing individuals eligible for deportation before they are released back into communities.

DeSantis was accompanied by key figures including Larry Keefe, Executive Director of the State Board of Immigration Enforcement; Roger Young, Executive Director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission; and Mark Glass, Commissioner of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Due to current weather conditions, including widespread rain across North Florida, it was decided that the Orlando news conference would be postponed. Channel 9 Eyewitness News was prepared to cover the event live, and viewers are encouraged to continue following the developing situation through their news app and live broadcasts.