What’s included in Florida’s new anti-immigrant law?

Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has signed into law Florida Bill SB 1718, perhaps the strongest anti-immigrant legislation in the entire country. The law will go into effect July 1, 2023. We hope to provide a breakdown of what is in the law and what it means for those living in Florida, who have family in Florida, or who may be thinking of traveling there.

Work and Education

In terms of employment and education, the law would make it much harder for employers to hire undocumented workers, with the potential for felony charges for those who do. They would face a $10,000 fine for each undocumented employee, and their license as an employer can be revoked. The law would bar undocumented people from practicing law, including even those with DACA.

Health Care and Support

Hospitals that receive Medicaid are now also required to ask for patients’ immigration status, though patients are not required to answer. More dangerously, it is now a felony to transport or drive any undocumented person into the state of Florida (i.e. entering across Florida’s border).

Driver’s Licenses

Driver’s licenses legally issued by other states to undocumented people would not be recognized in Florida, potentially leading to more serious traffic violations.

Racial & Ethnic Profiling

While the includes very harsh measures targeting the undocumented, critics point out that it will increase the likelihood of racial profiling across the board, affecting many documented immigrants and even non-immigrants who are deemed suspicious based only on their appearance.

Why are Republicans in Florida doing this?

Governor DeSantis made news in recent years through stunts where he had asylum seekers flown or bussed out of state to be abandoned in other cities. While he was criticized for his cruelty as well as for using state funds to usurp the federal government’s purview, this law increases funding to these efforts. He is expected to announce his candidacy for president in coming months, and is believed to be attempting to outdo ex-President Trump in anti-immigrant and in particular anti-Hispanic immigrant efforts. The bill was passed in Florida’s legislature largely along party lines, with Republicans broadly supporting it.

Is this law really dangerous?

Will this law make Florida more dangerous for undocumented immigrants? Unfortunately, the answer is definitely Yes. It will make it harder to find work and support families. It attempts to intimidate immigrants from getting health care, even in emergencies. It includes features that even target DACA recipients. Felony charges are obviously a threat to the undocumented, but can also have major effects on those with lawful status, so there is risk to anyone in Florida who may be considered assisting undocumented individuals under this law.

The original bill was even more dangerous, but thanks to activists some of its more extreme measures were not in the final law. We hope to inform you of what did not make into the law, so that you have up to date information. It is not a crime to live with, shelter, or pay rent for the undocumented. It is not a crime to transport the undocumented within Florida, as long as you are not crossing into Florida from out of state. And E-verify system will be required only of employers with 25 or more employees.