TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — On Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis enacted a comprehensive set of immigration laws that closely align with former President Donald Trump’s rigorous mass deportation strategies.
Republicans assert that these new regulations position Florida—traditionally welcoming to immigrants—at the forefront of conservative-led states aiming to utilize state and local resources for enforcing federal immigration policies.
As advocates for Trump’s immigration stance push forward in state legislatures nationwide, Florida lawmakers are preparing to face a potential legal challenge due to provisions that critics claim may violate constitutional rights.
The legislation imposed a death penalty for undocumented immigrants convicted of severe crimes such as first-degree murder or child rape, a measure that exceeds the scope of Trump’s earlier executive orders.
A division among state legislators and DeSantis emerged during the negotiation phase, which followed a prolonged period of disagreement among leading Republicans on how to best implement Trump’s aggressive immigration enforcement.
“Today, the Florida Legislature has passed the strongest legislation to combat illegal immigration of any state in the entire country,” DeSantis declared prior to signing the bills, while presenting a marker to each legislative leader present. “We are ahead of the curve on ending the illegal immigration crisis.”
Despite this enthusiasm, tensions remain, particularly as DeSantis, known for previously challenging Trump for the presidential nomination, is perceived to have ambitions for the 2028 race.
“This is undoubtedly a victory for Donald Trump. That’s the core of what this is all about,” Republican Senator Joe Gruters, a key sponsor of the legislation and Trump supporter, remarked.
Nevertheless, the legislative process was tumultuous, with DeSantis criticizing earlier proposals from lawmakers as “weak” and a “betrayal” of their conservative constituency.
“There’s still hurt feelings,” Gruters noted, “on all sides.”
The Florida immigration bills allocate nearly $300 million to bolster enforcement efforts. This funding includes hiring over 50 new law enforcement officers focused on immigration issues, grants for local agencies for necessary tools and training, bonuses for officers assisting in federal matters, and reimbursements for the leasing of detention facilities.
Additionally, the legislation stipulates the death penalty for immigrants committing capital crimes while residing unlawfully in the state; this aspect has drawn criticism from Democrats and civil rights advocates who question its constitutionality based on previous Supreme Court rulings.
The new laws propose increased penalties for all offenses committed by unauthorized immigrants and establish a new crime for those entering Florida following illegal entry into the U.S.
As part of legislative negotiations, a previously suggested measure that would have limited the governor’s emergency powers regarding immigration was dropped.
Controversially, the new laws also include a repeal of a provision allowing undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges and universities in Florida.
Elsewhere in the South, states like Alabama and Georgia are advancing similar restrictive immigration legislation. On Thursday, the Alabama Senate expedited several proposals, which would enable jails to hold individuals for immigration status verification, collect DNA from unauthorized immigrants in custody, revoke recognition of non-citizen driver licenses from other states, and criminalize bringing undocumented individuals into Alabama.
“If you enter the United States legally, these bills won’t affect you,” Republican Senator Wes Kitchens, who is sponsoring one of the bills, explained.
These proposals will now advance to the Alabama House despite opposition from Democrats, who have accused Republicans of “grandstanding.”
Jasmin Hernandez-Alamillo, a recent graduate of the University of Alabama at Birmingham and the daughter of Mexican immigrants, expressed concerns that such measures would foster racial profiling and prompt her to rethink living in Alabama.
“I don’t want to be part of a state that continues to promote negativity toward marginalized communities,” Hernadez-Alamillo voiced her concerns.
In Georgia, the state Senate has passed a bill allowing local governments to face lawsuits if they refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
This legislation aims to bolster an existing Georgia law enacted after the tragic murder of a University of Georgia nursing student by a Venezuelan immigrant, who allegedly entered the U.S. illegally. The current law requires law enforcement to work with federal officials in identifying and detaining undocumented residents and imposes penalties for noncompliance.
