I love news and politics but have purposely stayed on the edge of this illegal immigration fray. Now it is on the fore of my home state’s news thanks to Governor DeSantis. Let me unravel it here for those of you who have not heard what it is about. I will, however, not provide my opinion as this could cost me my job.

On May 10th, 2023 Governor DeSantis of Florida signed Bill 1718 to try to rein in what he can in the way of losses in Florida due to rampant illegal immigration. The nuts and bolts of this bill are as follows:

 

Highlights from this new bill include employers who have more than twenty-five employees will be required to use E-verify to check on the citizenship status of new employees beginning on July 1, 2023. Failure to do so carries some hefty penalties (up to $1,000 per day). It prohibits local governments from issuing driver’s licenses and Florida ID cards to illegal immigrants and doesn’t allow the use of the same from other states as proof of person. If an employer knowingly makes and ID card for an illegal person it is considered a felony. Hospitals and other healthcare organizations will be required to tabulate the cost of care for all illegal persons. This bill provides twelve million dollars to assist in the relocation of illegal immigrants to states that are under sanctuary status. Experts are saying this is the most comprehensive anti-illegal immigration law in our country.

In addition to those crimes designated above there is a special section of this Bill that deals with human trafficking. It addresses smuggling minors and says that is you attempt to smuggle five or more people and have a prior conviction for the same you can be tried under the RICO (Florida Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organization) Act.

The next couple of diagrams depicts how many illegal immigrants have crossed the southwest and land-based borders into the USA from 2020 thru the present. It is taken directly from https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters

So, what’s your take? Can it work? Will it help? Time will be the ultimate sign as to whether this new law protects the taxpaying residents of Florida or fizzles out.

 

References:

https://flgov.com/2023/05/10/governor-ron-desantis-signs-strongest-anti-illegal-immigration-legislation-in-the-country-to-combat-bidens-border-crisis/

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/southwest-land-border-encounters

 

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