Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed legislation on Friday that would increase jail sentences for immigrants who are living in the U.S. illegally if they are caught committing a felony or driving without a license.
Last year, I signed the toughest anti-illegal immigration legislation in the country. Today, I signed three more bills to build on the work we have done to protect Floridians from the impacts of the border crisis. pic.twitter.com/oZHpYvyzFR
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 15, 2024
“The federal government has failed in its responsibility to secure our southern border, leaving states to fend for themselves,” DeSantis said during a press conference. “In Florida, we do not tolerate illegal immigration, let alone lawlessness committed by illegal aliens who shouldn’t be here in the first place.”
According to the Governor’s website, there were three bills in total signed by DeSantis.
SB 1036, or the “reclassification of criminal penalties” bill, “enhances penalties for a crime committed by an individual who returns to the country illegally after an initial deportation.”
Illegal immigrants flout our laws because the federal government won’t enforce them. There are many cases of illegal aliens committing a crime, getting deported, returning, and re-offending. This should never happen.
I’m signing SB 1036 to increase the classification of a crime… pic.twitter.com/RmLPkk9uHV
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 15, 2024
HB 1451, or the “identification documents” bill, prevents counties in Florida from accepting ID cards that were issued to illegal aliens from other jurisdictions. Local jurisdictions are already prohibited from issuing ID cards to illegal aliens.
We’ve previously banned local governments and NGOs from issuing IDs to illegal aliens.
Today, I signed HB 1451, which prohibits counties and municipalities from accepting IDs issued to illegal aliens. pic.twitter.com/1rk417PwBO
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 15, 2024
HB 1589, or the “driving without a valid driver’s license” bill, increases the penalties on individuals who operate a vehicle without a license. In conjunction with HB 1451, illegal aliens cannot operate a vehicle in Florida, and if they do they will receive a stiffer punishment than they were open to before.
In Florida, we don’t allow illegal aliens to get drivers licenses and we won’t recognize drivers licenses that sanctuary jurisdictions give to illegal aliens. By increasing the penalties for driving without a valid license, the law I signed today is another tool to help law… pic.twitter.com/NEIZxTbsU7
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) March 15, 2024
These bills were meant to make it more difficult for people who entered the country illegally to make their residence in Florida.
“We really appreciate what people are doing who are wearing the [law enforcement] uniform to help keep our communities safe. So I think these bills will go a long way to helping make their job easier and make them even more effective,” DeSantis said during a news conference.
HB 1451 has garnered the most national attention as it is designed to further curb “community ID cards” that have gained in popularity recently. These cards cannot be used for driving or voting, but are alternative forms of identification often given by nonprofits. DeSantis referred to these IDs as “rogue identifications.”
“We do not tolerate illegal immigration, let alone lawlessness committed by illegal aliens who shouldn’t be here in the first place. The bills I signed further enhance Florida’s capabilities to uphold the law,” DeSantis said, revealing the purpose of the three bills signed on Friday.
