TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Republicans passed what they called the “strongest” immigration enforcement bill in the nation on Thursday, following weeks of internal disputes within the party as they aimed to support President Donald Trump.
For the past two weeks, Republican leaders in Florida have clashed with Governor Ron DeSantis over the state’s immigration reform direction. The tensions became personal at times, spilling over onto social media, with DeSantis supporters opposing GOP legislative leadership.
However, the political infighting took a backseat when DeSantis signed the bill into law, surrounded by state House Speaker Daniel Perez and Senate President Ben Albritton.
“Today the Florida Legislature has passed the strongest legislation to combat illegal immigration of any state in the entire country,” DeSantis said just before signing the bill.
DeSantis had previously threatened to veto a bill passed last month that would have reduced his immigration authority.
While Trump had been involved in the initial round of talks with both DeSantis and legislative allies two weeks ago, he did not directly participate in the final negotiations. Still, his influence was felt throughout the day at the state Capitol.
“It is about maximum coordination and collaboration with President Trump,” said state Sen. Joe Gruters, a prominent Trump ally and recently elected treasurer of the Republican National Committee.
Throughout the day, Republican lawmakers emphasized the importance of aligning Florida’s immigration laws with the changes Trump made at the federal level. Florida has one of the largest undocumented immigrant populations in the country, estimated at over 1 million.
Even some Democrats, who opposed the bill, acknowledged Trump’s role in shaping the legislation. Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, who voted against the bill, expressed agreement with much of the content, which includes boosting funding for local law enforcement and increasing penalties for undocumented individuals who commit crimes. Pizzo, who is considering a 2026 run for governor, also noted that the bill does not mention “deportations.”
One of the most contentious provisions was the removal of in-state tuition waivers for “Dreamers,” individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children. Florida Republicans had approved the waivers in 2014 under Republican Governor Rick Scott, but DeSantis and others have targeted them as the party’s stance on immigration has shifted. The removal of waivers could affect over 6,000 students, many of whom may be forced to leave school due to higher tuition costs.
“They will drop out,” said Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith. “You have priced them out of higher education.”
Other provisions in the bill include a mandatory death penalty for undocumented immigrants who commit murder, a measure that has sparked opposition from both Democrats and some Republicans who oppose capital punishment. Critics argue that the provision is unconstitutional and will likely lead to expensive legal challenges.
“I think the reason this is fair is 100% of cases when an illegal immigrant commits a crime, if they followed the law in the first place and not been here, the crime would not have been committed,” said Sen. Randy Fine, one of the bill’s key supporters. Fine acknowledged that the provision will likely face legal challenges, but he remains confident the courts may rule in Florida’s favor.
The bill also includes harsher penalties for undocumented immigrants committing crimes, a felony charge for undocumented individuals who vote, increased cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, and greater funding for immigration efforts in the state.
While Democrats remain vastly outnumbered in Florida, they strongly opposed the bill, arguing that immigration is a federal issue and that the state should not be overstepping its authority.
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