Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, stated during a Tuesday morning press conference that three of the four persons detained on charges of looting were in the country illegally.

“Three of the four are illegal aliens, and so these are people that are foreigners. They’re illegally in our country, and not only that, they tried to loot and ransack in the aftermath of a natural disaster,” DeSantis said. “I mean, they should be prosecuted, but they need to be sent back to their home country. They should not be here at all.”

DeSantis says 3 out of the 4 people arrested for looting are illegal aliens.

"They're illegally in our country. Not only that, they tried to loot and ransack in the aftermath of a natural disaster..they need to be sent back to their home country. They should not be here at all." pic.twitter.com/borfCzcXyL

— Washington Free Beacon (@FreeBeacon) October 4, 2022

Fox News stated that Omar Mejia Ortiz, Valerie Celeste Salcedo Mena, Brandon Mauricio Araya, and Stephen Eduardo Sanchez Araya were detained by Lee County sheriff’s officers. Ortiz is charged with petit larceny, whilst the other three are charged with grand larceny.

“Right now, we have four cases of looting, and I’m proud to say they’re behind bars where they belong. Our residents are going to be safe,” Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said, according to Fox.

“Three of these individuals, Robert Mena, Brandon Araya, and Stephen Araya, were arrested for stealing bottles from Fort Myers Beach during the hurricane,” observed Marceno. “They were discovered and arrested, and I will not tolerate it again,” she said.

DeSantis cautioned potential looters on Friday that looting would not be allowed in Florida, a “Second Amendment state.” Joy Reid, the host of MSNBC, was critical of his statements.

Florida is a law and order state.

Looting and lawlessness will not be tolerated. pic.twitter.com/8Ma9RuSlPq

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 1, 2022