A new bill signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis in May imposes criminal penalties and hefty legal fines on people who transport undocumented immigrants into Florida. Although the law aims to restrict human smuggling, immigrant communities who routinely cross into Florida for family purposes, medical care, or leisure, could face a 3rd-degree felony criminal charge under the new law. The law also includes provisions that punish businesses for hiring illegal immigrants.
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed Senate Bill 1718 as a response to the perilous consequences of illegal immigration resulting from the federal government's reckless border policies. This new legislation mandates the use of E-Verify for employers with 25 or more employees, establishes enforceable penalties for hiring undocumented immigrants, and strengthens penalties for human smuggling. Additionally, the bill prohibits local governments from issuing ID cards to illegal immigrants, invalidates ID cards issued to undocumented individuals from other states, and requires hospitals to collect and report data on healthcare costs for illegal immigrants.
Governor Ron DeSantis expressed, "The Biden Border Crisis has caused immense havoc throughout the United States and has jeopardized the safety of Americans. In Florida, we refuse to remain passive while the federal government neglects its lawful responsibilities to protect our country. The legislation I have signed today enacts the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the nation, pushing back against reckless federal policies and ensuring that Florida taxpayers are not burdened by the costs of illegal immigration."
Senator Blaise Ingoglia remarked, "Under President Biden's inept leadership, our Southern Border has experienced a crisis of epic proportions, with over 6.3 million illegal immigrants flooding our borders. Today, under the guidance of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida has made history by enacting the strongest state-led bill against illegal immigration ever introduced. It has been an honor to shepherd this bill through the process, knowing that we are protecting Floridians and setting an example for the nation to combat the crisis created by our own President."
Representative Kiyan Michael stated, "Today, Florida sends a resolute message that we will safeguard our resources, communities, and families as a state."
Effective from July 1, 2023, this legislation mandates that private employers with 25 or more employees utilize the E-Verify system for new hires. It also strengthens penalties for employers who fail to comply with E-Verify requirements, potentially leading to the suspension or revocation of employer licenses and the imposition of specific penalties on those who knowingly hire illegal immigrants.
Furthermore, this legislation establishes a third-degree felony for an unauthorized individual who knowingly uses fraudulent identification to secure employment. Additionally, counties and municipalities are prohibited from allocating funds to individuals or organizations for the purpose of issuing IDs or other documents to illegal immigrants.
Notably, illegal immigrants will no longer be allowed to rely on out-of-state driver's licenses. If an out-of-state license was issued to an undocumented individual who failed to demonstrate lawful presence in the U.S. at the time of issuance, that person is prohibited from operating a motor vehicle in Florida.
Senate Bill 1718 also strengthens the crime of human smuggling, particularly in cases involving minors, the smuggling of more than five individuals, or defendants with prior human smuggling convictions. Additionally, human smuggling is added to the list of crimes prosecutable under the Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization (RICO) Act.
Furthermore, this legislation requires each Medicaid-accepting hospital to include a question on admission or registration forms inquiring about the patient's U.S. citizenship or lawful presence. Hospitals must provide a quarterly report to the Agency for Health Care Administration, detailing the number of emergency department visits and hospital admissions based on the different categories of citizen status indicated on the admission or registration forms.