Shalimar, Fla. – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 168: Federal Immigration Enforcement. The bill prohibits state and local governments from having sanctuary policies in effect and requires such entities to support and cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.
“Earlier this year, I made a promise that we would ban sanctuary cities in Florida and today we are delivering on that promise,” said Governor DeSantis. “I am proud to sign the bill presented to me by the Florida Legislature to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no city or county jurisdiction can get in the way of Florida’s cooperation with our federal partners to enforce immigration law. This is about public safety, not about politics. We must do everything within our power, and use all the tools available to us, to ensure that our communities are safe.”
Photo Credit: Governor’s Press Office
“Florida has once again stepped up when Washington D.C. has failed by passing the strongest ban of sanctuary cities in the country,” said Senator Joe Gruters. “This law ensures we do not treat non-citizens better than Americans and it will help ensure Floridians are not being victimized by illegal aliens. This legislation will ensure that our law enforcement agencies are able to cooperate with federal authorities and will get illegal criminals aliens off our streets.”
“It has been my honor to stand with Governor DeSantis and Senator Gruters to ensure that Florida is a state that respects the rule of law and the public safety of its citizens,” said Representative Cord Byrd.
SB 168 makes great strides in protecting the public from illegal aliens who unlawfully reside in our state by prohibiting state and local entities from having policies in place which prohibit or impede law enforcement from cooperating with a federal immigration agency. The bill requires any sanctuary policies already enacted to be repealed, and gives both the Governor and the Attorney General authority to initiate enforcement actions against entities who violate the bill’s provisions.
The bill makes Florida’s communities safer by requiring county jails to enter into agreements with United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to temporarily house persons subject to immigration detainers. This will ensure that criminals who are in the United States unlawfully are not released back into our communities.
