Trump’s first day included an executive order which renewed emphasis on the death penalty in cases of murdering a law enforcement officer or committing a capital offense while illegally in the U.S. while allowing federal judges and jurors discretion in its application. In Florida, a law has passed the state legislature removing this discretion in cases of a capital offense. In fact, there has been a slew of legislation in the state targeting undocumented immigrants in the United States.
The Florida state legislature recently passed a law making it a state crime to enter Florida without legal status, with the first offense a misdemeanor and every subsequent offence elevated to a felony. Similar sentencing enhancements in recent Florida laws apply to anyone in the U.S. illegally, elevating what would be a misdemeanor to a felony charge, exponentially increasing fines and time behind bars. DeSantis recently signed a bill that makes the death penalty mandatory for undocumented immigrants who commit capital felonies, eliminating judicial discretion in some cases, though there is “longstanding precedent” of the unconstitutionality of mandatory death penalty laws according to Kara Gross of the Florida ACLU.
All 67 of Florida’s county jails have signed 287(g) agreements with ICE, a partnership that grants state and local law enforcement limited immigration enforcement powers, likely in order to enforce these new laws. Additionally, USCIS recently declared that all undocumented immigrants aged 14 or older “who were not fingerprinted or registered when applying for a U.S. visa and who remain in the United States for 30 days or longer” have to sign up for an immigration registry, with “limited exceptions.”
Be very careful!
Beware of notaries, immigration consultants or anyone who is not qualified and prepared in these matters. Always seek the advice and services of an immigration attorney for your immigration processes and procedures.