DeSantis of Florida signs controversial ban on sanctuary cities



[ad_1]

Florida Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Friday signed a controversial move barring localities from becoming sanctuary towns and asking them to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

"I am proud to sign the bill that the Florida legislature has introduced to uphold the law and ensure that no jurisdiction of a city or county can do it. Barrier to Florida's cooperation with our federal partners to enforce immigration law, "said DeSantis in a statement Friday.

"It's about public safety, not about politics, we have to do everything we can and use all the tools we have to keep our communities safe."

The bill aimed at detainees from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) – requests from the federal agency for local and state governments not to release immigrants suspected of criminal offenses. States and localities across the country have ignored them, prompting strong criticism from the president and calling them "sanctuary jurisdictions".

THOMAS HOMAN, FORMER CHIEF OF ICE, RETURNING TO ADMINISTRATION AS FRONTAL CZAR, REVEAL OF TRUMP

The bill was passed by the Senate of the State (22-18 votes) and passed in the House with more than 20 votes margin. "This bill is not anti-immigrant and it is dangerously hypocritical to suggest otherwise," said Rep. Elizabeth Fetterhoff of R-DeLand.

But groups such as the Southern Poverty Law Center have opposed the law. Scott McCoy, his main political adviser, allegedly accused DeSantis of using "racial grievances to dissociate the Floridians".

IMMIGRATION RIGHTS GROUPS ASK SUPREME COURT TO REPORT DECISION ON 2020 CENSUS

"This compromises public safety and makes our cities less safe by forcing local law enforcement to spend less of their time and resources fighting crime in local communities and doing more of the work of local communities. federal immigration authorities, "McCoy said.

The new law will also face legal challenges, drawing more and more attention to a problem that President Trump has put forward, including the tragic death of Kate Steinle. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which issued a travel notice in response to the law, called the measure unconstitutional.

"The law is anti-immigrant, unconstitutional, inhumane and hurts our families and our communities," said the Florida ACLU. says on Twitter.

If the ACLU and other people sue, the country's courts might consider another case on this issue. Under former Attorney General Jeff Sessions, the Department of Justice had to face a legal battle after cutting federal grants to cities that refused to cooperate with immigration control services. She also sued the state of California in 2018 for her sanctuary policies.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

The Florida law was passed while the administration of President Trump was striving to meet the demands of a growing migration crisis in which the authorities lacked the time and space to accommodate illegal immigrants. Trump had previously suggested sending illegal immigrants to sanctuary towns, including two counties in South Florida – Broward and Palm Beach. The administration subsequently denied that it was intended at the time to transfer migrants to these counties.

[ad_2]

Source link