Members of the South Florida immigrant community demonstrate against Florida's SB1718 immigration law, in Homestead, Fla., July 1, 2023.Florida resident Maria and her husband say they are afraid to leave their homes.
Florida's SB1718, one of the nation’s strictest immigration laws, took effect on July 1. Individuals who knowingly transport undocumented immigrants into the state may now face felony charges. Florida has also invalidated out-of-state driver's licenses that are given to undocumented immigrants. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican who is a 2024 presidential hopeful, said the law increases penalties for human smuggling. When the governor signed the bill into law, state senator Blaise Ingoglia said it gives the state "the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country."MORE: DeSantis says he would seek to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants
The SPLC, ACLU and other organizations said they plan to file a lawsuit against DeSantis, focusing specifically on the restrictions the law imposes on transporting undocumented immigrants into the state. But just a day before the law went into effect, Zabaleta acknowledged his police department was still waiting for guidance from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement about how to handle incidents where an undocumented immigrant is found to be driving with a legally obtained out-of-state driver's license.
Tessa Petit, executive director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition said many seasonal workers in Florida are questioning whether it’s safe for them to return this year.
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