Floridaโs House voted in favor of โSanctuary Citiesโ reform. This reform would hold local officials accountable if they donโt fully comply with immigration authorities on undocumented individuals. Today, the Senate is set to take it up and likely pass it through to Governor DeSantis.
Immigration is a federal issue and local governments have no authority to intervene on the issue under any circumstance. What you might be surprised to know is that less than half of Florida fully complies with federal authority on the issue.ย Only 29 out of 67 counties in Florida have full ICE detainer agreements in place.ย In South Florida, only Monroe County operates with one.
Youโll often hear from local governments that theyโre not โsanctuary counties or citiesโ but thatโs only somewhat true. Thereโs a jurisdiction with any crime thatโs committed. Just as every bank robbery is a federal offense, every illegal immigrant is a federal offense. No local government has any authority on the matter.ย
The game thatโs often played at the local level in Florida with non-complicit local governments, is that theyโll respond to any ICE detainer requests that come about, thereby proclaiming that theyโre not โsanctuary counties or citiesโ but they often wonโt contact or work with federal authorities proactively when undocumented people are detained.ย
The new law will require law enforcement to obtain immigration status for anyone arrested. It will require that they yield to appropriate jurisdiction, federal authorities for undocumented individuals.ย Any public officials in violation would be fined and/or removed from office. This will take effect 90 days after passage.
Seems like common sense but then again, I believe in the rule of law. Itโs remarkable how many people in government, and the ACLU, donโt.ย
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