16 MAR 2023

DeSantis and Florida GOP Bill: If You Live with, Work with, or Help Immigrants, You Could Go To Jail

Florida Republicans led by Gov. Ron DeSantis have filed a radical anti-immigrant bill that puts a target on the backs of Florida immigrant families and violates civil liberties while hindering economic growth in the state

WASHINGTON DC - Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican state legislators have filed a radical, unprecedented and far-reaching anti-immigrant bill. Yesterday, the bill passed the Florida Senate Rules Committee. As the potential 2024 contender seeks to gain voter support outside of Florida, DeSantis is waging a cultural and economic offensive against the Sunshine State’s communities, including workers and businesses – a preview of the extreme platform the governor will likely tout in the run up to the 2024 presidential election.

Among a number of draconian measures, the new Florida bill makes it a third-degree felony to drive, rent or live with an undocumented immigrant; prohibits local funding of community identification programs (such as popularly-supported municipal-level identification cards); creates restrictions for small businesses to hire immigrant workers; and mandates healthcare providers to disclose patients’ immigration status. In addition, the bill sponsor in the Senate, Republican State Senator Blaise Ingoglia, has threatened to add a provision to terminate in-state tuition for Dreamers.

These policy measures would impact Florida’s economy, businesses, and U.S. citizen and immigrant families. The state’s undocumented workers contribute more than $1.8 billion in federal and local taxes. In Florida, there are nearly 800,000 U.S. citizens who live with an undocumented person or family member. Over 340,000 U.S. citizen children live with undocumented family members and more than 285,000 of those live with an undocumented parent. Additionally, 132,000 U.S. citizens have an undocumented spouse. If this bill is signed into law, these U.S. citizens adults who live with an undocumented person would potentially be exposed to a third-degree felony.

In response, Beatriz Lopez, Chief Political and Communications Officer for the Immigration Hub, released the following statement:

“From a housing crisis displacing Floridians to laws undermining schools, students and the LGBTQ+ community, Gov. DeSantis has just added another extreme, un-American policy to his deeply concerning record. The bill puts a target on the backs of workers, families and businesses. This isn’t just about going after immigrants – it’s political theater for the 2024 stage with devastating consequences.

“How are the actions of the governor and Republican legislature the ‘courage to be free’? There is no courage in punishing families. Voters want solutions that make our economy stronger, improve our immigration system, and center working families, including immigrant workers who contribute to our cultural and economic growth. This is a race to the bottom for a governor who is more concerned about making a name for himself than addressing issues impacting Florida taxpayers.”

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The Immigration Hub is a national organization dedicated to advancing fair and just immigration policies through strategic leadership, innovative communications strategies, legislative advocacy and collaborative partnerships.