The Florida Legislature is meeting in special session this week — but only on the issue of illegal immigration. In doing so, legislative leaders are openly defying Gov. Ron DeSantis’ attempts to bend lawmakers to his will – and his ability to control the discussion.

I’m not going to take lectures from someone who a year ago didn’t think Donald Trump should be president,” said state Sen. Randy Fine.

"Just like all the immigration bills we passed, it isn't a silver bullet, but we're moving the ball forward, and we have to support the president."

TALLAHASSEE — The Florida House and Senate openly rebuked Gov. Ron DeSantis’ call for a special session on immigration Monday by defiantly rejecting his slate of bills, then adjourning and immediately regrouping to consider alternative legislation approved by their leaders.

Ron DeSantis Monday, rejecting his special session ... Only one lawmaker, DeSantis ally Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, voted against the override. Legislative pushback unusual in Florida ...

This was the first time the Republican-controlled legislature denied a Republican governor a special session since the GOP took control in the 1990s.

It’s a staggering turn of events for a governor used to getting his own way — and a test of his national staying power as he stares down the end of his term in two years.

In a stunning move, the GOP-led Florida Legislature on Monday rebuffed a push by Gov. Ron DeSantis to pass a slew of bills on immigration.

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature passed a plan that includes boosting criminal penalties for undocumented immigrants.

Florida lawmakers passed a sweeping immigration bill Tuesday, setting aside half a billion dollars in public funds to help carry out President Donald Trump's crackdown.

DeSantis continued to decry the legislature’s efforts as weaker than his own plan, which was rejected yesterday.