Law against undocumented immigrants in Florida: these are the new measures

Last week, the Florida legislature passed a new immigration law (S.B. 1718) that directs new resources toward the tracking and deportation of undocumented immigrants in the state. After approval, the bill went to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature.

On Tuesday, Governor DeSantis signed the legislation into law, which has become the strongest anti-illegal immigration law in the country (and don’t take our word for it). After signing the bill into law, Gov. DeSantis described it as “the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country.”

What are the new requirements?

The governor defended the law saying that the federal government was not fulfilling its obligations and that it would allow Florida to fight “back against reckless federal government policies.” However, many aspects of the law depend on federal systems and tools.

When the law takes effect on 1 July 2023, businesses with more than twenty-five employees will be required to use the federal E-Verify system that determines whether employees can legally work in the United States. Employers who do not comply with the law will face greater penalties, including a possible suspension and revocation of their business licenses, as well as specific penalties for employers who knowingly employ undocumented aliens.

Additionally, immigrants will be required to provide a Florida driver’s license or ID when applying for a job. Undocumented immigrants will no longer be able to rely on documentation provided by other states and will be prohibited from operating motor vehicles in the state.

Individuals caught smuggling a minor within a party of five or more people, or in cases where the “defendant has a prior conviction for human smuggling,” will be subject to more severe punishments. The law also allows adds “human smuggling to the list of crimes allowed for prosecution under the Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.”

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The ACLU of Florida has criticized the bill noting that the provisions that would subject a person “traveling in a car across state lines with an undocumented person” to up to fifteen years behind bars will “encourage racial profiling.” The civil rights organization is concerned that the law will create further distrust between immigrant communities and law enforcement since it “supports inquiries related to the nationality, citizenship or immigration status of people they interact with in everyday life.”

The new legislation may also frighten undocumented immigrants to such an extent that they do not seek medical care when necessary. Under Florida law now, every hospital that accepts Medicaid must include a question on the admission or registration forms that asks if the patient is a US citizen, lawfully present in the US or not.