TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a sweeping package of immigration bills aimed at carrying out President Donald Trump's mass deportation agenda.
Republicans say the legislation puts Florida — long a haven for immigrants — on the leading edge of conservative-controlled states working to leverage state and local resources to carry out federal immigration enforcement.
WATCH BELOW: Florida GOP pushes through immigration laws after bitter infighting
"The Florida Legislature has passed the strongest legislation to combat illegal immigration of any state in the entire country," DeSantis said at a Thursday afternoon news conference.
Last month, lawmakers had tossed out a set of immigration proposals backed by DeSantis, prompting the governor to blast the bill lawmakers offered in response. DeSantis had pledged to veto that measure, which he called "weak," and threatened to back Republican primary challenges against its supporters.
As Trump supporters in state capitols across the country race to deliver on the president's signature issue — despite concerns from immigrant advocates — lawmakers in Florida are teeing up a potential fight with the courts as they advance a provision that critics argue is unconstitutional.
Florida's new legislation mandates the death penalty for immigrants in the U.S. without legal authorization who commit capital offenses like first-degree murder or child rape. It's a provision that goes above and beyond Trump's executive orders.
WATCH BELOW: Gov. DeSantis signs new legislation on illegal immigration
Florida bills help settle rift between lawmakers and DeSantis
DeSantis' approval of the bills Thursday came after legislative leaders brokered a compromise with the governor, settling a weekslong standoff among the state’s top Republicans over how best to support Trump’s sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration.
“Today, the Florida Legislature has passed the strongest legislation to combat illegal immigration of any state in the entire country,” DeSantis said before signing the bills and handing a sharpie to each of the legislative leaders standing behind him. "We are ahead of the curve on ending the illegal immigration crisis.”
But the tensions pitting allies of the president against DeSantis — who dared to challenge Trump for the nomination — may not evaporate, as the term-limited governor is widely expected to have presidential aspirations in 2028.
"Ultimately this is a win for Donald Trump. Because that’s what this is all about," said Republican Sen. Joe Gruters, a sponsor of the bills and a key Trump ally.
But the process was bruising, with DeSantis blasting lawmakers' previous proposals as "weak" and a "betrayal" of conservative voters, before ultimately signing the compromise package.
WATCH BELOW: Immigration reform bills near passage, raising concerns over impact on undocumented students
"There's still hurt feelings," Gruters said, "on all sides."
Florida bills set aside $298M for immigration enforcement
Florida’s measures allocate $298 million to hire more than 50 new law enforcement officers focused on immigration enforcement, plus grants for equipment and training for local agencies, bonuses for officers who assist in federal operations, and reimbursement for leasing detention facilities.
The proposal also mandates the death penalty for immigrants in the country illegally who commit capital offenses. Democrats and civil rights advocates have argued that provision is unconstitutional, citing previous Supreme Court precedent.
The bill package would also increase penalties for all crimes committed by immigrants in the country without authorization and would create a new crime of entering the state after coming to the U.S. illegally.
As part of the compromise, lawmakers did away with a previous proposal that would have stripped the governor of much of his emergency powers on immigration.
Bill raising concerns over impact on undocumented students
One of the most contentious aspects of the legislation remains the repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students, a move that has sparked heated opposition. In the final hours before the bills are expected to head to DeSantis, critics are urging the GOP supermajority to include a "glide path" to protect students who are already enrolled. However, those changes appear unlikely.
As the current school year draws to a close this summer, in-state tuition for Florida's undocumented college students will likely disappear, despite passionate pleas from DACA recipients who have called on lawmakers to preserve the bipartisan program.
"It just leaves me heartbroken and disappointed," Diego Dulanto Falcon, a graduate student at the University of South Florida, said.
He relied on the tuition waivers to earn his bachelor's degree. Now mentoring fellow DACA recipients, he had deep concerns about what lies ahead.
"I don't really know… I don’t really know what to say to them," said Dulanto Falcon. "There is no other option for a lot of these students."
According to state officials, approximately 6,500 students benefit from the tuition waivers, with most likely being undocumented. The state estimates it is losing out on more than $40 million in potential revenue, while supporters of the bill argue that waivers incentivize illegal immigration.
"It breaks my heart when I hear from these people," Sen. Randy Fine, R-Melbourne, said. "I am sorry that their parents did it to them. These children did not magically appear in the United States. Their parents chose to break the law."
The debate over the waivers is somewhat complicated by the fact that Florida lawmakers originally approved the program in 2014 with bipartisan support. Among those backing the measure was the current Lt. Gov. Jeanette Nuñez, R-Florida, who at the time emphasized that children should come first, regardless of their parents' legal status.
"I firmly believe this bill balances fairness with pragmatism, compassion with common sense— to grandstand and inject political rhetoric in this debate is, in my opinion, shameful," Nuñez said during her 2014 term in the Florida House.
However, Nuñez has since reversed her position on the waiver program, stating online that it has "served its purpose" and that the times have changed.
For Florida Democrats, the current proposal is too far.
"Let's punish the students to make us look tough. It's more like bullying, which is shameful, plain and simple," Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith, D-Orlando, said.
Democratic leaders, including Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo, D-Hollywood, have called on Republicans to add a grandfather clause to the bill, protecting those who are already enrolled in the program.
"The poison pill is in-state tuition," Pizzo said. "Otherwise, I vote for this bill."
Despite these last-minute calls for amendments, lawmakers in both the House and Senate advanced the bills without making any changes.
In addition to repealing in-state tuition for undocumented students, the legislation includes around 16 provisions aimed at increasing immigration enforcement. Among them are making illegal immigration a state crime, increasing funding for enforcement agencies, and heightening penalties for undocumented individuals involved in criminal activities. It also proposes the creation of a state immigration board to oversee everything, replacing ideas for an immigration tzar— a role filled by either Florida’s Ag Commissioner or a DeSantis appointee.
