Migrant transport bill heads to DeSantis for signature

Lydia Nusbaum contributed to this report.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Florida lawmakers passed a bill that continues and clarifies the governor’s authority to transport migrants to other states.

The bill heads to Gov. Ron. DeSantis’ desk for signature. The House passed the bill 77-34 Friday. The Senate previously passed the bill 27-12.

It will allow $10 million to create the “Unauthorized Alien Transport Program” within the Division of Emergency Management.

Florida Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart, introduced the House version, which would allow the governor to offer illegal immigrants transportation from one state to another state. He specifically pointed out that sanctuary jurisdictions can provide certain amenities to migrants that Florida does not provide.

Snyder said the border has “further deteriorated” under President Joe Biden and Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

“Due to the humanitarian crisis at the border, and the lack of the Biden plan, we have children, mothers, families, who are literally homeless, and are fending for themselves,” Snyder said.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, carried the bill in the Senate.

The sponsor said the legislation applies to migrants who have already had an encounter with either DHS or ICE and have been given documentation saying that they are released but not legally entitled to be in the U.S.

The program currently sits under the Department of Transportation, where $1.6 million was reportedly spent to send nearly 50 migrants to Martha’s Vineyard. The bill rolls over the leftover $10 million as nonrecurring fund to the new program, according to the sponsor.

“I think the governor acted within his authority on the prior flights, but we make sure that there’s no question whatsoever. We always look at everything as the money is spent. But I think the governor has done a good job where others are not doing anything to respond to this,” Speaker of the House Paul Renner said Friday.

The bill outlines that the program is in response to the federal government failing to secure the nation’s border, leading to a surge of inspected unauthorized aliens.

During the debate on Friday, Rep. Daryl Campbell, D-Fort Lauderdale, brought up concerns regarding the legislation.

“The sponsor cannot sufficiently answer questions like how does the vision of Emergency Management find these migrants? How will the federal government know where these people are after they have been transported?” Campbell asked.

“This bill is not about Floridians. Frankly, it’s not even about migrants. It’s about the governor dictating to this legislator questionable policies while misusing taxpayer funds,” he argued.

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody recently joined a multi-state legal filing against the Biden administration for a new border policy that would allow up to 30,000 migrants per month to legally enter the country.

DeSantis previously issued an Executive Order that directs state law enforcement agencies and other state agencies to take necessary actions to protect Floridians from the impacts of the border crisis.