(The Center Square) – Florida legislative leaders and Gov. Ron DeSantis reached a deal on immigration as lawmakers will return to the capitol on Tuesday for a special session that ends on Friday.
In a joint proclamation, House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, and Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, said lawmakers would consider three bills in the special session.
“We are building on the technical assistance from the White House to advance and implement strong policies and provide critical resources to support President Trump’s efforts to combat illegal immigration efficiently and effectively,” the proclamation said. “We are proud that over the last few weeks conversations and debate within the Legislature on these issues have been civil and respectful.
“By working together with the governor towards a shared goal, these proposals and appropriations ensure Florida continues to lead by example with the strongest crackdown on illegal immigration in the nation.”
In a post on social media, DeSantis praised lawmakers for coming to a compromise.
“Requiring state and local participation in federal immigration enforcement, making it a crime to enter FL illegally, and ending catch-and-release of criminal aliens – all great policies and I’m happy to see the FL Legislature stepping up to get the job done,” DeSantis said.
The first of the three bills, Senate Bill 2C/House Bill 1C, would mandate higher penalties for people illegally in the country who commit crimes.
Under the identical bills, people illegally in the country who are gang members and commit crime would automatically receive the maximum sentence for that crime. Pretrial detention would be required for people illegally in the country who commit forcible felonies.
The bill would also create a grant program to reimburse law enforcement agencies for expenses incurred while enforcing federal immigration law. It would make it a felony for a person illegally in the country to vote, along with anyone encouraging a noncitizen to cast a ballot.
The bill would also create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement that would consist of the governor, the commissioner of agriculture, the attorney general and the state’s chief financial officer. This board would help the federal government to assist with the enforcement of immigration law. Any decision by the board would need to be unanimous.
A council of sheriffs and police chiefs would also be convened under the proposal that would advise the immigration enforcement board on local enforcement efforts.
The measure would also end in-state tuition for people illegally in America.
Lastly, the bill would require county jails to provide the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement with the immigration status of inmates.
SB4C/HB3C would mandate a mandatory death penalty for people illegally in the country who commit murder or child rape and would create a state-level crime for entering the state illegally.
SM6C/HB5C would codify the state’s relationship with ICE and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help combat illegal immigration.
All of the bills are authored by the same lawmakers. Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, sponsored the legislation in the upper chamber and Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover, in the House.
