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TALLAHASSEE — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday escalated his fight with the Biden administration over immigration, directing Florida agencies to stop assisting federal authorities in relocating migrants.

The Republican governor also called on state law enforcement officials to “audit” large private companies to ensure their workers are legally permitted to work in the U.S. and encouraged Florida authorities to detain buses, planes or cars “reasonably believed” to be transporting someone who entered the country illegally from the southern border.

DeSantis’ actions were paired with a new lawsuit filed by Attorney General Ashley Moody against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as well as other top Biden immigration officials that contends federal authorities are flouting immigration laws and that Florida is harmed when detained migrants are released and told to appear at immigration proceedings at a later date — a policy that critics call “catch and release.”

“If you look at what’s happening at the Southern border, it is a total disaster,” said DeSantis who announced his actions at a press conference held in Fort Myers. “This is absolutely a crisis … We are the ones who affected by this and we have to fight back.”

Moody, who like DeSantis is running for re-election next year, also ripped into Biden at Tuesday’s press conference, saying that “Biden is aiding and abetting criminal cartels” due to his administration’s immigration policies. DeSantis contended that the Biden administration policies were “intentional” and “ideological” and designed to reverse actions by former President Donald Trump.

DeSantis, seen as a potential presidential candidate in 2024, has pushed a hardline on immigration policies in the past, including advocating a ban on so-called “sanctuary cities” as well as a somewhat watered-down requirement that companies screen employees through a federal immigration database. Both DeSantis and Moody visited the Texas border this summer at the same time that Florida sent 250 law-enforcement agents to help local authorities deal with a surge of migrants crossing into the United States.

Florida Republicans were once cautious about immigration, worried it could cost them support among Hispanic voters in the state. But Trump carried the state in 2016 even though he espoused a hardline on immigration — and his stances were echoed two years later on the campaign trail by DeSantis. The issue continues to resonate strongly with GOP voters, who DeSantis will depend on for his re-election next year — and in any Republican primaries beyond.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday she was not aware of the details of Florida’s new lawsuit but said that the Biden administration is open to a “constructive conversation” about immigration laws because the current situation is not “sustainable.” But Psaki also asserted that “we don’t have open borders” and that it is “not accurate” to assert that if someone is given a notice to appear they will “stay long term” in the United States.

During his press conference, DeSantis also said that he has been unable to get any information from Washington about how many migrants were being resettled in Florida in the wake of a surge of people attempting to cross the border.

“We are entitled to know what’s going on,” DeSantis said.

The moves announced on Tuesday mark yet another flashpoint between the Biden administration and Florida Republicans. DeSantis directed Florida to sue federal authorities over cruise ship restrictions and both he and Moody have pledged to challenge any federal vaccine mandate requirements put in place for large employers. DeSantis and Biden have also clashed repeatedly over school mask mandates and the GOP governor recently sharply criticized the Biden administration for its decision to curtail shipments of monoclonal antibody treatments into Florida.

Florida’s lawsuit follows an attempt by Moody last spring to mount a legal challenge against temporary immigration enforcement orders put in place by the Biden administration shortly after the president took office.

The March lawsuit argued the policies could lead to the release of criminals in the state and could force Florida to pay costs associated with helping those who entered the country illegally. A federal judge rejected Florida’s request for a preliminary injunction, asserting at one point that Florida could not base its lawsuits on the “mere threat” of future criminal activity or costs. That ruling has been appealed.

The legal challenge announced Tuesday, which was first reported by Fox News, was filed in federal court in Pensacola and argues that some of those entering the country illegally who are getting released are “gang members” and “drug traffickers exploiting the crisis at the border.”

The lawsuit also asserts that Florida is spending tens of millions to incarcerate criminals who entered the country illegally.

DeSantis’ actions brought swift blowback from some state Democrats. State Sen. Annette Taddeo, a Miami Democrat, called DeSantis’ announcement “political posturing” and said that his executive order “further shows the governor’s willingness to fuel the politics of hate to gain support for his future presidential ambitions.” Taddeo, whose mother was Colombian, added that “instead of using immigrants as political pawns to score political points with an extremist base of his party, as an elected leader, the governor should instead set a tone and example for our state and country.”

As part of his stepped up focus on immigration, DeSantis also announced he was hiring Larry Keefe, the former U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Florida and one-time law partner of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) to serve as a “public safety czar” who would help the state with its enforcement efforts.

The governor’s decision to order state agencies to not cooperate with federal authorities relocating migrants is quite a contrast from 2019 when the governor pushed for a bill banning “sanctuary cities.” Back then, DeSantis lauded the law because it called for local authorities to cooperate with immigration authorities.

Taryn Fenske, a spokesperson for the governor, contended the state doesn’t have to cooperate with the Biden administration because it is “breaking” federal immigration laws.

“Nothing in Florida law requires the state government or local governments to assist in the federal government’s non-enforcement of federal immigration law,” Fenske said in an email. “If the Biden administration began faithfully enforcing the law, we would gladly support its efforts.”

ALBANY, N.Y. — New York City Public Advocate Jumaane Williams is moving closer to challenging Gov. Kathy Hochul in a Democratic primary next year, saying he’ll soon be touring the state as he weighs a bid.

“We’re announcing an official exploratory committee for the governor of the state of New York,” Williams said in an interview. “And that means we’re going to take some time to run around the state, speak to some folks, open up an advisory committee, open up an account, start talking about policy.”

Williams, a popular figure in New York’s progressive circles, said his campaign isn’t about “running against anyone, it’s really about running for something.”

“We are presenting a vision of a different type of Albany. As we start to recover and renew New York, we don’t want to return back to normal because normal didn’t work for most New Yorkers,” he said. “And in order to do that … you have to make a complete change of who is there, particularly in that position [of governor], so we’re going to present that vision to the people.”

Williams ran against Hochul in a primary for lieutenant governor in 2018. She defeated him by seven points. He ran on a ticket with gubernatorial aspirant Cynthia Nixon, capturing the attention of the party’s left wing, while Hochul was backed by the state Democratic Committee’s machinery. Much of the campaign was defined by Williams hammering Hochul for her alliance with then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo, and Hochul attacking the him for past views on abortion and same-sex marriage that she said fell short of full-fledged support.

Williams outpolled Hochul in Brooklyn and Manhattan, but the now-governor won nearly every other county in the state.

Williams said that though he has experience outside of New York City — he pointed to his previous role heading up NYS Tenants & Neighbors, a statewide organization that fights for tenants’ rights — he will need to start earlier this time to create support networks across the state.

“A lesson learned from 2018 is that we want to begin to build a lot of infrastructure in a way that we didn’t a few years ago,” he said.

The public advocate has since increased his presence upstate, spending some of his summer fundraising and holding events on topics like gun violence with fellow progressives.

Hochul, who became New York’s first woman governor after Cuomo resigned in August, did not acknowledge a question about Williams’ candidacy while walking into the Capitol on Tuesday afternoon.

Williams is the first public official to openly prepare a primary race against Hochul. But he likely won’t be the last, as different factions and leaders attempt to rearrange New York’s political landscape in a post-Cuomo world.

The most formidable potential challenger is widely considered to be Attorney General Tish James. When asked last week about her 2022 plans, James said that she “enjoy[s] serving in the office of the New York state attorney general and it’s entirely up to the people of the state of New York.”

Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.) and Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone have also been musing about a campaign. So has outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. And there’s a long list of other names.

When asked on Tuesday, de Blasio said he’s not surprised to hear Williams may be jumping in — and suggested he’s still considering his own bid.

“I respect Jumaane Williams a lot. We have a good long history together, but we also obviously have areas we disagree,” de Blasio told reporters. The mayor said he intends to stay in public service after his term expires at the end of the year and is still weighing “the best way I can serve going forward.”

Erin Durkin contributed to this report.

Turkey’s controversial plan to purchase Russian defense weapons and its authoritarian regime were criticized Tuesday during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on four of President Joe Biden’s ambassador nominees.

The nominees include former Delaware Gov. Jack Markell for ambassador to Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development; former ambassador to Romania Mark Gitenstein for ambassador to the European Union; former Arizona Republican Sen. Jeff Flake for ambassador to Turkey; and Cindy Hensley McCain, businesswoman and widow to former Sen. John McCain, for ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization.

It’s unclear when the committee will be able to cast their votes or when there will be a full Senate vote, a Democratic aide said. The Senate has approved just two of Biden’s ambassador nominees, well behind previous presidents.

During the hearing, Flake criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s purchase and test firing of the S-400 missile defense system from Russia, saying “any purchase of additional Russian weapons will result in additional sanctions.”

Erdogan said in an interview with CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday that he planned to purchase more of the Russian missile systems, despite objections from the United States and NATO allies.

“In the future, nobody will be able to interfere in terms of what kind of defense systems we acquire, from which country at what level,” he said. “Nobody can interfere with that. We are the only ones to make such decisions.”

Flake, who left the Senate in 2019 after one term and later endorsed Biden for president, said he will push for Erdogan to change course.

“If confirmed, I will consistently reiterate that disposing of this system is the path to removing CAATSA sanctions,” Flake said, referring to the 2017 Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act that imposes sanctions on Iran, North Korea and Russia. “I will also warn Turkey that any future purchase of Russian weapons risks triggering further CAATSA sanctions, in addition to those already imposed.”

Flake touted Turkey as an important economic partner with the U.S. and encouraged defense trade with its fellow long-time NATO member that “keep its military interoperable with NATO.” But Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the committee chair, said he opposes arms sales to Turkey unless there is a shift in its position to purchase the S-400 missile defense systems.

“I see no arm sales going to Turkey unless there is a dramatic change around, on the S-400 and moving forward,” Menendez said.

Turkey is the U.S.’ 32nd largest goods trading partner, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative, totaling $20.7 billion during 2019. And the U.S. is Turkey’s fourth-largest source of imports, totaling $10.4 billion, according to the Observatory of Economic Complexity.

Menendez also lambasted Turkey’s impingement on freedom of the press and aggressive crackdown on government critics.

“Erdogan’s repression is unbefitting of a democracy and unbefitting of a NATO ally. Democracies don’t jail journalists, intimidate academics, and infringe upon freedom of religion,” Menendez said. “They don’t renege on their commitments to stop violence against women and they don’t put political opponents in prison.”

Flake promised to advocate against that authoritarianism.

“I’m troubled by Ankara’s democratic backsliding, and the negative trajectory in terms of freedom of expression, freedom of association and peaceful assembly in Turkey,” Flake said. “If confirmed, I will challenge Turkey to uphold its domestic and international human rights commitments, while also pushing Turkey to live up to its status as a NATO ally.”

In a shift east of the Mediterranean, when asked for his thoughts on permitting China entry into OECD, Markey said the bar should be “incredibly high.”

“One of the core strengths of the OECD is the shared values amongst the members: commitment to democracy, commitment to a market-oriented economic system. While there may be some that see growth in OECD membership as a metric that matters, I don’t,” said Markey, stopping short of saying China should be denied membership. “I think we should have an incredibly high bar when it comes to ascension into OECD membership.”

Gitenstein, a former ambassador to Romania during the Obama administration, said he’d work to build a unified position on energy issues as a step toward involving European allies in a multilateral approach to increase pressure on the Kremlin, while also emphasizing strengthening democracy and free markets in the EU.

“One of the main reasons I talked to the president and now secretary of State about wanting this job was because I saw the power that the EU can play on anti-corruption and energy security if all the players in the EU work together, and especially if the central Eastern European countries — as I call the borderlands — which are very much the targets of this effort,” he said. “I want to work directly with them and directly with the leadership at the EU on all of these issues.”

McCain noted her focus would include the “intersection of access to water and agricultural needs” and expanding public-private partnerships to help tackle global food insecurity.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein is headed back to Washington on Tuesday evening after spending a week away in San Francisco while her husband was hospitalized.

The California Democrat’s return comes as Congress continues to look for a solution for keeping the government open and raising the debt limit ahead of Thursday’s federal funding deadline. Republicans blocked Democratic efforts on Monday — a vote Feinstein missed.

“Senator Feinstein is returning to Washington this evening after staying in San Francisco while her husband was hospitalized,” a Feinstein spokesperson said in a statement to POLITICO. “Her husband is now recovering at home.”

The Hill was the first to note Feinstein’s absence on Monday. A spokesperson said it was a “family medical emergency,” adding that the senator would have voted with Democrats on Monday.

“The senator is carefully following the vote situation in the Senate and will return to Washington as soon as possible,” Hill reporter Jordain Carney tweeted on Monday, relaying a message from Feinstein’s team.

Feinstein voted last on Sept. 14, before the Senate took several days off. She has missed all votes since the chamber reconvened on Sept. 20.

Her husband, investment banker Richard Blum, was taken to the hospital last week with an undisclosed condition, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. He was reported to have spent four or five days in intensive care.

Blum, 86, was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2016, and Feinstein had to miss the Democratic National Convention because of his treatment plan. He’s had a crippling respiratory condition since 2018, according to the Chronicle.

Feinstein, 88, is the oldest sitting senator. She was reelected to her full fifth term in 2018, even as some Democrats have pushed for her to step aside and open the door for someone younger and more progressive.

With the Senate split 50-50 between the two parties, Feinstein’s vote this week is crucial as Democrats again try to fund the government and pass President Joe Biden’s ambitious infrastructure package. The senator’s absence has so far not cost her party any legislative wins.

Colby Bermel contributed to this report.