Governor Ron DeSantis’ Law Raises Concerns for Undocumented Immigrants Traveling to Florida

Foto:
Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images

Because SB 1718 does not make the definition of “undocumented” very clear its application can generate a kind of persecution against immigrants who have some temporary protection or are in the process of obtaining it.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) had already warned of this loophole in the law against immigrants that went into effect on July 1 in Florida.

The norm is focused on the entry of undocumented immigrants to Florida, but by land, which has even triggered alerts for relatives who transport immigrants without papers from another state to that entity.

What happens to the undocumented who travel by plane? Immigration lawyer John Pratt recommended that these immigrants be careful when traveling to that state, since they could be at some risk.

“If you are in an asylum process, in a TPS process or if you have a family petition [es recomendable] have them upload their immigration papers, but if you are undocumented, there is always a riskPratt told Telemundo.

The expert added that it has always been a risk to travel undocumented by plane, because people could be questioned about their immigration status.

Now the situation is even more complicated with Law SB 1718, since even before it entered into force, civil organizations launched a travel warning to the undocumented.

The Telemundo report cites travel agencies that acknowledge that they have clients who have canceled their trips to Florida, due to fear of the law enacted in May by Republican Ron DeSantis.

Ground transportation trips are more risky for the undocumented, even for those who drive the vehicle – hired drivers or family members – since SB 1718 will punish these people for people smuggling.

The law also ignores the driver’s licenses that states issue to undocumented immigrants, although the first list of those entities: Connecticut, Delaware, Hawai, Rhode Island y Vermont.

Civil rights experts warn that this list will increase in the coming weeks.

In addition to these restrictions, businesses with more than 25 employees must use the E-Verify system for hiring.

Likewise, medical and emergency services should ask patients about their immigration status.