DeSantis Signs Bills that, he Says, Will Deter Unauthorized Immigrants from Florida

Source:Voz de America

Florida’s governor has frequently criticized President Joe Biden’s administration for its handling of the US southern border and has sent law enforcement officers and members of the Florida National Guard to Texas.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed several bills on Friday that increase prison sentences for immigrants living illegally in the United States if convicted of driving without a license or committing serious crimes.

“We do not tolerate illegal immigration, let alone the disorder committed by illegal aliens who shouldn’t be here in the first place. The bills I’ve signed further enhance Florida’s ability to enforce the law,” said DeSantis.

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The governor linked the bill related to driver’s licenses with a Florida law that already prohibits migrants who are illegally in the country from obtaining that document. It also increases the maximum sentence for anyone found guilty of driving without a license two or more times, from 60 days to one year in jail; this applies equally to US citizens and immigrants in the country without authorization.

Some migrant support groups have criticized the bill, saying it jeopardizes public safety, as many immigrants prohibited from having a license will continue to drive, simply without taking tests or acquiring insurance. Nineteen states and Washington DC issue driver’s licenses to immigrants in the country without authorization, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

“True security is achieved through comprehensive measures, such as driver education, licensing for all qualified drivers, and access to insurance, not through punitive law enforcement,” said Renata Bozzetto of the Florida Immigrant Coalition in a recent statement. “Instead of criminalizing people, Florida’s Republican legislature should work to invest in initiatives that promote driver safety, address disparities in the licensing process, and ensure equitable access to transportation for all residents.”

Another bill increases maximum prison sentences for migrants convicted of committing serious crimes after being previously deported for unauthorized entry into the country.

For example, immigrants guilty of low-level offenses, such as simple burglary or car theft, would face a maximum sentence of 15 years instead of the five-year sentence, which is the maximum term for those crimes. Immigrants convicted of mid-level offenses, such as aggravated assault, would face a maximum sentence of 30 years instead of the 15-year sentence, which is the maximum typically assigned to such crimes. And migrants who commit the highest-level crimes, such as armed robbery, could receive life imprisonment instead of the maximum 30-year sentence.

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