Miami, Florida – Yesterday, Governor Ron Desantis signed his anti-immigrant bill SB 1718 into law. This harmful bill will make it a felony to drive an undocumented immigrant into the state, require hospitals to ask patients’ immigration status, fine businesses for not using the flawed e-verify system, among other cruel policies meant to encroach upon the day-to-day lives of immigrants and those around them.
Romina Montenegro, Florida Advocacy Coordinator of United We Dream, said:
“Most Floridians know there’s enough sunshine to go around, and are welcoming, and caring to immigrant people. The passage of SB 1718 by Governor DeSantis is cruel and goes against our values. This bill, which was rammed through this legislative session, is filled with provisions designed to take away the freedom of immigrants, with the potential to encroach on the daily lives of people simply trying to exist in Florida. Immigrants have continuously fought for our rights to live freely and this bill will not only impact immigrants but also those who work with, live with, and otherwise depend on immigrants.
Everyone has the right to feel safe in Florida. Instead of prioritizing the freedom of all people to live and thrive in the sunshine state, some elected officials are more concerned with denigrating immigrants for their own political gain; ignoring the true problems Floridians face. They don’t have solutions to our problems, so spend their time dividing and distracting Floridians by trying to turn us against our immigrant neighbors. But we won’t let them. We can and must come together to fight back against these harmful attacks and demand our politicians out the revolting ways in which DeSantis and other Republicans make Florida an unwelcoming state for immigrants and other marginalized communities.”
