Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis Pushes For Harsh New Immigration Legislation

What’s the story?

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing for a proposal that would crack down on the border crisis by penalizing those who aid undocumented immigrants and calling on doctors to ask patients their legal status as a condition of care, among other strict new measures.
• The proposal represents the strictest crackdown on immigration in the country since Arizona’s 2010 “show me your papers” law and is expected to pass as Republicans have supermajorities in both state chambers. 

What is in the proposal?

• The bill would create legal consequences, possible third-degree felony charges, and five years of jail time for sheltering, hiring, and transporting undocumented immigrants. 
• Under the proposal, a child driving a parent to work or a lawyer driving a client to an appointment could be charged for aiding and abetting an undocumented immigrant. Employers who hire workers without authorization could face penalties or jail time.
• The bill would require hospitals to inquire about patients’ immigration status and report data directly to state authorities. It would also invalidate out-of-state driver’s licenses if the holder is discovered to be undocumented. 
• If passed, the legislation would ban funding from being used toward granting identification documents to undocumented immigrants, while enabling the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to assist federal authorities in immigration enforcement if necessary.

What is DeSantis saying?

• Gov. DeSantis stated that his package is a response to Biden’s “open borders agenda.”
• The legislation is part of DeSantis’ track record of anti-immigration policies. In Jan., he activated the National Guard to circumvent migrant boats in the Florida Keys and announced a state of emergency.
• DeSantis defended the package at a news conference in Feb. when he spoke from a lectern with the phrase “Biden’s Border Crisis” written on it. He said:

“We need to do everything in our power to protect the people of Florida from what’s going on at the border and the border crisis.”

• DeSantis also said:

“Florida is not a sanctuary state and we will uphold the rule of law.”

What are opponents saying?

• Critics and human rights activists fear the legislation will heighten racist tensions and impact undocumented residents living in the U.S. for a long time, enhancing fear and racial profiling.
• Opponents also point to how it could impact a state struggling with a prolonged labor shortage, particularly in fields where undocumented workers comprise much personnel, like in-home care, agriculture, and tourism.
• The proposal might discourage undocumented migrants from seeking medical attention because their doctor would be required to see proof of their immigration status, ultimately leading to deportation.
• The Southern Poverty Law Center stated they are prepared to challenge the legislation in court if it passes. Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, the executive director of a non-profit, said:

“You are looking at a bill that creates an atmosphere where you could get targeted whether you are an immigrant, citizen or tourist. You don’t know people’s immigration status by looking at them.”

• Leaders of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, Nanette Barragán (D-CA) and Darren Soto (D-FL), said:

“The recent policies implemented by the Republican-led Florida Legislature demonstrate Governor DeSantis’ preference for fearmongering, promoting racial profiling, and damaging Florida’s economy, rather than supporting the state’s Hispanic population in their time of need.” 

The big picture of immigration in Florida

• Unauthorized border crossings in the U.S. have grown yearly, with roughly 2.5 million recorded last year alone. Humanitarian crises in Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela have led to a spike in migration to Florida, where there is an estimated 772,000 undocumented residents.
• According to the New York Times, 722,000 American citizens in Florida live in households with one or more undocumented immigrants.
• Florida’s immigration courts have the highest number of cases pending in the country, with 296,833 cases pending as of March 31.

Do you agree with DeSantis’ strict immigration proposal?

—Emma Kansiz