The new laws in Florida that could affect the immigrant community in the United States
This series of regulations could affect various aspects of the lives of millions of immigrants such as education, mobility, among others.
Leer en español: Las nuevas leyes en Florida que podrían afectar a la comunidad inmigrante de Estados Unidos
The immigration policy in the United States has reached a new "milestone" in the establishment of the strategies implemented by President Donald Trump, through one of the states with the highest immigrant population in the country: Florida.
Amid the ongoing debate on immigration in the North American country, the Sunshine State's legislature has tilted the balance towards tightening immigration control policies through a series of new restrictive laws that could transform the lives of millions of immigrants in this territory.
Within this package of regulations, which were signed by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday, February 13th, are the creation of new agencies responsible for enforcing immigration policies, the suspension of various immigrant support programs, the enactment of harsher penalties for undocumented immigrants, among others.
Florida's new laws against immigrants
The Migrant Transportation Program is transformed
Originally established as a program to transport and relocate migrants without the need for direct coordination with the federal government, Florida's new bill has introduced significant changes such as its activation only when federal immigration authorities directly request the resource.
In addition, it is anticipated that this program will only operate if the same federal authorities assume transportation costs and supervise operations at all times.
Birth of a new immigration law enforcement board
Prior to the arrival of the new legislative package, the Florida Commissioner of Agriculture was considered the top authority on migration matters. However, thanks to the new regulations, the creation of the so-called State Immigration Compliance Board is proposed, composed of the governor, the commissioner of agriculture, the attorney general, and the state finance director.
This new body, specifically designed for the enforcement of these regulations, also aims to centralize and coordinate immigration control activities with federal authorities directly.
Educational reforms
Among the most controversial aspects of the new package of laws is the elimination of in-state tuition for undocumented students, who had the opportunity to access higher education through a set of specific requirements.
However, due to this new modification, opportunities to obtain high-quality higher education and optimal professional development could suffer a serious setback.
New sanctions
In the criminal realm, a proposal was put forth to criminalize individuals residing in the state of Florida illegally. This legislation, considered the most drastic among experts, states that being an undocumented immigrant in this state could constitute a state offense.
In addition, through a second law (HB 3-C and SB 4-C), harsher penalties, such as the death penalty, are established against undocumented individuals who commit serious crimes such as murder or rape.
*This article has been automatically translated using artificial intelligence
