Florida lawmakers have advanced three bills that will increase penalties for undocumented immigrants and illegally criminalize entry into the state. The bill allocated millions of grants to local law enforcement agencies and the Department of Agriculture for immigration enforcement. It will cost money to implement.
Florida lawmakers advanced three bills Wednesday to boost immigration enforcement ahead of the final floor vote set on Thursday.
The bill is a compromise between GOP legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, both to help President Donald Trump promote deportation and prevent future crossings of illegal borders They say they are saying that.
However, the debate in Congress shows that this issue is far from being resolved soon, as the discussion about immigration shifts to the legal and logistical consequences of moving thousands of people out of the state. Ta.
“It’s almost reckless that we hold on to the border. Lawrence McClure of R-Dover, sponsor of one of the bills (HB 1C), said: “Otherwise, it’s It’s lawless and now we have to do something about it.”
He responded to criticism from Democrats, his bill punishes undocumented students by stripping tuition fees in the state, and immigrants who legally seek asylum are caught up in new enforcement measures. He responded to criticism that detention and imprisonment for illegal immigrants is too expensive.
“Are we going to put more money into prison?” asked D-Tampa’s Rep. Dianne Hart. She said the state has struggled with prison staff in recent years and has relied on members of the Florida State Guard to help protect the state’s prisons.
The law in question this week will increase penalties for undocumented immigrants who commit crimes, allowing them to sentence a minimum of nine months in prison for entering the state without legal status.
It also provides $250 million grants to local law enforcement and $48.2 million to the Agriculture and Consumer Services Department to support its enforcement efforts. Some of these grants will be directed towards law enforcement officer bonuses.
For the Democrats, that wasn’t enough.
Democrats find reason to oppose the legislation
Senate Democratic leader Jason Pizzo in North Miami also argued that there should be wage increases as well as bonuses, and the bill excludes economic incentives from Florida Department of Corrections and arrests under new rules detain and oversee immigrants who have been
“We’re not serious about fighting illegal immigration unless we address the biggest economic factors that are employment,” Pizzo said.
The bill also establishes the state’s immigration executive committee, consisting of DeSantis and members of the Florida Cabinet. He is the Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer and Agriculture Committee.
The new board will coordinate with federal immigration officials. Under the previous bill passed by Congress, enforcement obligations have been moved from DeSantis to now Republican Wilton Simpson, agriculture committee member.
It was a point of attachment with DeSantis, who called the bill (SB 2b) “weak” and compared Simpson’s control of immigration enforcement to “Fox Protecting the Chicken.”
DeSantis vowed to reject the bill, but welcomed the new measures from Congress despite excluding provisions he promoted in the original call at last month’s immigration special session.
That includes restrictions that allow people within the country to illegally wire money to their country, as well as new powers that allow DeSantis to expel illegal immigrants.
All bills were passed along party boundaries primarily through House and Senate budget committees.
Sen. Ileana Garcia of Miami was the only Republican to vote against either measure. She voted against SB 4C. This is because it requires illegal immigrants convicted of capital offences, such as first-degree murder or rape of children under the age of 12, to be automatically sentenced to death.
“I value all life deeply, and I believe that while those who commit such a violent act must face justice, no one has the right to take another life,” Garcia said. I said that.
Senator Pizzo and Daryl Luson of St. Petersburg – two Democrats voted for SB 6C. This is a measure that calls for guidance when signing up for local law enforcement agencies in programs that receive federal immigration law enforcement training.
McClure is the one that his bill will establish a council of local law enforcement officials, propose the extra capabilities needed to house prisoners, and provide more funding to help enforcement. It was pointed out that we would propose the required capacity.
He emphasized that lawmakers will resort to their proposal to continue cracking down on illegal immigration.
This story contains previously published material. Gray Rohrer is a reporter for the USA Today Network-Florida Capital Bureau and can visit grohrer@gannett.com. AnaGoñi-Lessan, USA Today Network’s state watchdog reporter, Florida, can visit agonilessan@gannett.com.
