Lawmakers send anti-illegal immigration bill to DeSantis

Amber Jo Cooper contributed to this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – The Florida House gave final approval to an anti-illegal immigration reform package, sending it to Gov. Ron DeSantis for signature.

The legislation, which passed 83-36 in the House, makes changes to E-Verify, adds more money for an illegal immigration transportation program and increases penalties for human smuggling.

Rep. Berny Jacques, R-Seminole, and Rep. Kiyan Michael, R-Jacksonville, carried the legislation in the House.

Michael shared the story about her son who was killed in a car wreck by an illegal immigrant who did not have a U.S. driver license.

“This bill would have made a huge difference because it would have prevented, in a lot of ways, or had the opportunity to prevent the death of our child,” Michael said. “The illegal immigrant that killed our son was smuggled in at least one time. He had been deported twice previously.”

It includes $12 million from the general fund for an illegal immigration program that DeSantis used to send migrants to Martha’s Vineyard last year.

Under current law, E-Verify is only mandated for public employers and their contractors. The bill would change the requirement to mandate employers with more than 25 employees use E-Verify. Those with less than 25 employees would need to use the current I-9 process.

If the Department of Economic Opportunity finds that an employer did not use the E-Verify system, then the company could face a fine of $1,000 per day until the situation is resolved.

The state wants to begin tracking how much in taxpayer dollars are spent on illegal immigrants in hospitals that accept Medicaid.

“The state has the right to know how much money is being spent on those who are not here lawfully,” Jacques said.

Patients would fill out an intake form asking whether they are legally in the U.S. The answer would not change their ability to receive hospital services.

Hospitals that accept Medicaid would need to provide data on the number of illegal immigrants receiving hospital services and the amount of taxpayer dollars that was spent.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, sponsored the legislation in the Senate. The Senate approved the bill 27-10.

“We can no longer turn a blind eye to what’s happening. It is time for us, the state of Florida to step up and tell the federal government to fix this problem, because we are no longer standing for it,” Ingoglia said.

The act would also repeal state law that allowed an unauthorized immigrant who was brought to the U.S. as a minor to practice law in Florida. The bill would not affect the validity of any license to practice law before Nov. 1, 2028.

Rep. Susan L. Valdés, D-Tampa, who is the Democrats’ only Cuban-American legislator, said the bill is “cruel” and “without humanity.”

“The provisions of this bill go directly against the values of family and liberty. We as Americans must reject these attacks on communities who cannot make their voices heard” Valdés said.

The legislation also prohibits local governments from providing identification cards to illegal immigrants.

On top of this, the legislation enhances human smuggling penalties for those smuggling a minor, more than five people, or when the defendant has a prior conviction for human smuggling.

The bill outlines that someone who “knowingly and willfully” transports someone into the state that is here illegally commits a third degree felony.

The analysis said it changes the state’s domestic security statutes to more easily help the federal government enforce federal immigration laws.

Democrats, including Sen. Lori Berman, D-Boynton Beach, said the bill would have a “chilling effect.”

“Florida is a place where immigrants find a new life and migration has made us into an economic powerhouse. But if this legislation is adopted, the damage will be horrendous,” Berman said.