When judges put criminals back on the streets, innocent Americans pay with their lives. Recent tragedies across the country prove what many of us in Florida have long understood: soft-on-crime policies only serve to put innocent, law-abiding citizens at risk.
The recent murder of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, is a tragedy that could have easily been prevented. Her killer had over 14 prior charges and despite his violent history, a judge released him onto the streets. Iryna survived a warzone in Ukraine only to be murdered in cold blood while riding a train home from work in the United States.
Congressman Mike Haridopolos, shown here during a March 2025 visit to the Kennedy Space Center, says the country needs to get tougher on crime.
Sadly, this is not an isolated failure. Soft-on-crime policies have gripped the nation over the past several years, and it puts everyone at risk.
Sanctuary cities are the worst cases of this. Their decisions are local, yet the impact is nationwide. Last month, Florida paid the price when an illegal immigrant who was granted a commercial driver’s license by sanctuary states caused a Turnpike crash that killed three people. Granting an illegal alien a driver’s license to drive a 40-ton truck on America’s highways is thoughtless governance. Every American family is less safe because of it.
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In Florida, we stand for law and order. Our leaders prioritize protecting law-abiding citizens, making Florida a state where families can live, work, and thrive. But when other states undermine federal law and release violent offenders, their failures reach our communities too.
Thankfully, America now has a president who has common sense. President Trump vowed to protect Americans, and he is keeping that promise. His leadership in cleaning up Washington, D.C. is already delivering results. In just one-month, violent crime has gone down by 39%.
I support President Trump’s cleanup of Washington. This week I voted for several Republican-led, common-sense reforms to fix D.C.’s broken justice system, like ending the absurd practice of treating 23-year-olds as “minors,” ensuring violent criminals as young as 14 face justice, and restoring police authority to pursue suspects.
By working together, we are putting public safety and victims first; making clear that lawlessness will not be tolerated in our nation’s capital. The entire city now feels safer and is even cleaner than it was when I arrived in January. Enforcing the law and having zero tolerance for crime works.
We now have a president and Congress that refuse look away or excuse the inexcusable. We understand that the first role of government is to protect the life, liberty, and property of law-abiding citizens. I will continue working with President Trump to restore safety in every corner of America.
U.S. Rep. Mike Haridopolos, R-Indian Harbour Beach, represents Florida’s 8th district. You can reach his Melbourne office at (321) 632-1776.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Florida pushes back as crime rises under lenient justice policies
