DeSantis signs anti-illegal alien bills: Increased penalties, illegal IDs, invalid licenses

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis on Friday signed three bills passed this year by lawmakers aimed at further cracking down on illegal immigration and illegal aliens in Florida.

He made the announcement in Polk County with Sheriff Grady Judd and other officials and lawmakers.

One bill increases penalties for illegal aliens who commit crimes in the state after already having been deported for being there illegally. The legislation increases the severity of each degree of felony by one degree: a third degree would become a second degree, a second degree a first degree, and a first degree turns into a life felony.

• DeSantis vowed that Florida will “throw the book” at illegal aliens who come back to Florida to commit crimes.
• It also increases a second degree misdemeanor to a first, and a first degree misdemeanor to a third degree felony.
• Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, sponsored it. Reps. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville, and Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, carried the House version.
• It takes effect Oct. 1.

Another bill prevents local governments from validating community IDs for illegal aliens.

• The governor noted that giving out such IDs is already not allowed, but the measure goes further in preventing them from validating such IDs.
• Ingoglia, Michael and Jacques carried the legislation.
• It takes effect July 1.

The third bill increases penalties on those who drive without a valid driver’s license.

• The legislation hikes penalties on those with a revoked, suspended, or revoked license, along with increasing penalties on repeat offenders.
• It was sponsored by Ingoglia, along with Rep. Rachel Plakon, R-Lake Mary.
• It takes effect July 1.

Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nunez and Attorney General Ashley Moody praised lawmakers for forwarding the bills and DeSantis for signing them.