TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — After a very contentious few weeks, Florida lawmakers can be heading again to Tallahassee Tuesday for the aim of passing laws on unlawful immigration — this time with the governor’s help.
In a memo to lawmakers Monday afternoon, Senate President Ben Albritton, R-Wauchula, and Home Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, introduced that they had been submitting a proclamation to convene the legislature for an additional particular session.
The announcement got here solely weeks after lawmakers abruptly ended a particular session referred to as by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to deal with unlawful immigration, arguing that the governor’s actions had been “untimely,” after which convened their very own session.
The transfer killed all current laws filed forward of the particular session, with lawmakers later passing their very own laws deemed the TRUMP Act. Nevertheless, earlier than it made its solution to his desk, DeSantis threatened to veto the invoice, which he mentioned was not robust sufficient.
With one other particular forward, lawmakers mentioned they’re ready to make “minor” modifications to the already “very robust laws.” Of their memo, Perez and Albritton famous that a part of what prompted their determination to convene for an additional particular session was “necessary suggestions” obtained from DeSantis and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, together with “technical help from the White Home.”
“We’re proud that over the previous couple of weeks conversations and debate inside the Legislature on these points have been civil and respectful,” the memo mentioned. “By working along with the Governor in the direction of a shared objective, these proposals and appropriations guarantee Florida continues to steer by instance with the strongest crackdown on unlawful immigration within the nation.”
The legislature can be voting on three payments, all sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters, R-Sarasota, and Rep. Lawrence McClure, R-Dover.
The invoice summaries embrace measures reminiscent of increased penalties for unlawful immigrants who commit crimes, funding for native legislation enforcement to help the Trump administration with immigration enforcement, felony expenses for illegals who vote, and a compulsory loss of life penalty for unlawful immigrants who commit homicide or little one rape, amongst different issues.
The laws would additionally create a State Board of Immigration Enforcement comprised of the governor, commissioner of agriculture, lawyer basic, and chief monetary officer, who should all agree unanimously for selections to be permitted.
DeSantis expressed his approval for the concepts being proposed in a post on X Monday afternoon.
“Requiring state and native participation in federal immigration enforcement, making it against the law to enter FL illegally, and ending catch-and-release of legal aliens — all nice insurance policies and I’m comfortable to see the FL Legislature stepping as much as get the job carried out,” the governor wrote.
The particular session will start at midday on Tuesday, Feb. 11 and finish at midday on Friday, Feb. 14.
