Hispanic leaders in Florida urge DeSantis to not sign controversial immigration bill

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (WPEC) — Local Hispanic leaders, including pastors, businesses, and non-profits, are up in arms, urging Gov. Ron DeSantis not to sign a bill that they feel will hurt undocumented immigrants in Florida.

The legislation, Senate Bill 1718, would mandate hospitals ask patients about their legal status, require medium- and large-sized employers to use the federal e-verify system to check the legal status of new employees, and allow anyone caught knowingly transporting undocumented migrants with human trafficking.

"Mandatory E-Verify, we've been working on that for many, many years. That is going to make it so that the incentives to come illegally in Florida have been dealt with. I think that's really, really important," said Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at a news conference Friday, May 5.

The bill also sets aside $12 million in funding for DeSantis to continue transporting migrants out of Florida in similar ways to what he did in the fall of 2020: sending them on planes to Martha's Vineyard.

Leaders in the Hispanic community sent a letter to the second-term governor and possible presidential candidate, telling him if he signs a bill that state lawmakers have passed, it will be a disaster.

We're just begging him not to sign this law because it will create economic havoc," said Aileen Walborsky, an immigration attorney in West Palm Beach.

Dozens of people gathered outside the Palm Beach County Courthouse Monday in West Palm Beach, including a man with a sign that reads "IN DEMOCRACY WE TRUST, NOT FASCISM."

They say if Gov. DeSantis signs S.B.1718, it would be a huge mistake.

The bill will cause irreparable harm to the economy of the state of Florida," said Mariana Blanco, assistant executive director of the Guatemalan-Maya Center in Lake Worth Beach.

Under the bill, cities, and counties in Florida would alsoi be prohibited from giving funds to any organization that creates I.D. cards for undocumented immigrants.

Drivers' licenses issued to undocumented citizens in other states would not be valid in Florida.

Those who oppose the bill say it would spell disaster for undocumented people already in Florida, such as those who work in landscaping, construction, and agriculture.

The bill will cause economic havoc. Many local companies will leave the state. New companies will not consider Florida and local businesses will lose their employees," Blanco said.

Others feel if the Governor signs the bill into law, more undocumented immigrants will become victims of crime.

The signage of this bill will affect crime because undocumented people will not report a crime which will create unsafe communities," Walborsky said.

Instead of signing the bill, they're urging the Governor to come to Palm Beach County and meet with them and listen to their concerns.

A spokesman for the Governor's Office said DeSantis intends to sign the bill.

Opponents say if the Governor does sign the bill, they'll file a legal challenge to block it and the dispute will wind up in court.