(The Center Square) – Two immigration-related bills were passed by the Florida Senate in an three-hour session on Thursday.
The House of Representatives will take up the bills as lawmakers face a Friday deadline to get legislation passed designed to bolster the state’s assistance with President Donald Trump’s deportation program.
Senate Bill 4C passed 25-11 and Senate Bill 2C 27-10.
Senate Memorial 6C would codify the state’s relationship with the U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to help combat illegal immigration and was passed by both chambers on Thursday.
All three bills were sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota.
SB4C and SB2C would create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement, which would act as a liaison with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on enforcement-related issues. The governor would be the chairman of the board and all of its actions must be by unanimous vote.
That board would be advised by the State Board of Immigration Enforcement Council, which would consist of six police chiefs appointed by the governor and other statewide elected officials and four sheriffs appointed by legislative leaders.
The measure also would allocate $250 million to reimburse local law enforcement agencies for their costs to help with immigration enforcement efforts.
The bill would also mandate criminal penalties for people illegally in the state and would add harsher penalties for subsequent offenses.
The measure would mandate a mandatory death penalty for people illegally in the country who commit murder or child rape.
If the legislation becomes law, those in the country illegally would be banned from taking part in any post-arrest diversion programs.
SB2C would make it a felony for people illegally in America to vote in state elections and prohibit the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles from issuing a driver’s license or identification card to those illegally in the country.
The bill would also create the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program within the Division of Emergency Management. This would require ICE to request assistance for the transportation of those illegally in the country and to supervise those efforts. ICE would be required to reimburse the state for costs associated with transportation.
