Florida House passes bill banning ‘sanctuary cities’
The Florida House passed a bill Wednesday that would ban “sanctuary cities” from existing in the state.
The high-profile bill sponsored by state Rep. Cord Byrd (R), if signed into law, would require local law enforcement agencies to work with federal immigration authorities in identifying immigrants without legal status, according to CBS 4 Miami.
While Florida does not currently have any sanctuary cities, several states have sanctuary policies in place to help protect immigrants from being arrested by federal authorities.
{mosads}The GOP-led House voted 69-47 nearly along party lines to pass the measure Wednesday. A similar bill is currently in the state Senate as well.
The bill would also punish local governments for not complying with the ban with a fine of $5,000 for each day a sanctuary city policy is in place.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) already issued a statement telling people not to travel to Florida if the legislation becomes law, according to the Miami Herald.
“If Florida State Bill 168 and House Bill 527 pass, it would undermine local governments’ ability to protect the civil rights of their residents by forcing local officials to cooperate with ICE,” the ACLU said in a statement. “It would also put immigrants at risk of violence, potentially forcing victims and witnesses to stay silent for fear of deportation.”
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signaled during his campaign that he would sign legislation banning sanctuary cities should it reach his desk, and campaigned against illegal immigration.
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