Florida's New Immigration Laws: A Deep Dive

Florida has just made some big changes to its immigration laws. The state is now spending a lot of money to enforce these new rules. The state will spend nearly 300 million dollars to hire more than 50 new law enforcement officers. These officers will focus on immigration. The money will also be used to train local agencies and give bonuses to officers who help with federal operations. Plus, there will be reimbursement for leasing detention facilities. The new laws also increase penalties for all crimes committed by immigrants without authorization. This includes creating a new crime for entering the state after coming to the U. S. illegally. There is also a controversial provision that mandates the death penalty for immigrants who commit capital offenses while in the country illegally. This has sparked debate, with Democrats and civil rights advocates arguing that it is unconstitutional. The new laws also repeal a law that allows Florida students who are in the country without legal authorization to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. This change has drawn bipartisan criticism. The new laws in Florida are part of a broader trend. Other southern states, like Georgia and Alabama, are also passing their own bills aimed at furthering Trump’s immigration crackdown. In Alabama, new proposals would allow jails to hold people to verify immigration status. They would also require jails to collect DNA from unauthorized immigrants in their custody. Ending the state’s recognition of driver licenses from other states that are issued without proof of citizenship. And making it a felony to bring an undocumented immigrant into the state. The bills in Alabama now move to the Alabama House over the opposition of Democrats. Jasmin Hernadez-Alamillo, the daughter of Mexican immigrants and a recent graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said she’s concerned the proposals will lead to racial profiling in traffic stops. She said the measures make her rethink living in the state. In Georgia, the Senate passed a bill allowing local governments to be sued if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. This bill strengthens a Georgia law passed last year after a Venezuelan immigrant, who authorities say entered the U. S. illegally, murdered 22-year-old University of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. That law mandates law enforcement agencies cooperate with federal officials in identifying and detaining undocumented immigrants. And punishes them if they don’t. The new laws in Florida and other southern states have sparked debate and criticism. Some argue that these laws are unconstitutional and will lead to racial profiling. Others see them as a necessary step to enforce immigration laws. The debate continues as these laws are implemented and challenged in the courts.