ICYMI we reviewed the two immigration bills here in Florida: Secure Florida Act (Governor Desantis) and the TRUMP Act (the bill filed and passed by the Florida Legislature).  We took a straw poll at our meeting and the Secure Florida Act won unanimously as the stronger bill after all the comparisons were done.

Here are some highlights of the bills:

1.  Alignment with Executive Orders: TRUMP Act to the public IMPLIES and gives the PERCEPTION that it is approved by TRUMP.  However, it is just an ACRONYM that stands for Tackling and Reforming Unlawful Migrant Policy.  Hence “bait and switch”. Yet, this TRUMP Act does not really address the primary goal of President Trump – deportation. Instead, it increases bureaucracy by creating additional law enforcement under the Dept of Agriculture, including creating more fiscal expenditures! Under our state constitution, State Security of our borders lies with the Governor not the Secretary of Agriculture. Perception is a power grab by the legislature to control the governor’s powers. On the other hand, the primary goal of the Secure Florida Bill is deportation not creating additional bureaucracy!
2. Endorsement from Law Enforcement: In our research, we have not been able to find an endorsement by the Florida Sheriffs Association. IF they read the bill, it does not give the Sheriff any right to work with the Federal agencies to handle deportation activities UNTIL the Secretary of Agriculture APPROVES it. On the other hand, under the Secure Florida bill, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement requires mandatory cooperation with the Federal Immigration Enforcement Agencies and includes transporting to Federal Agencies! No added approval required once this is LAW!
3. Upholding Constitutional and Biblical Principles: In the TRUMP Act pamphlet being distributed by legislature, the first bullet point is “automatic death penalty”. Yet, this is UNCONSTITUTIONAL in the state of Florida! Also, murder is frowned upon in the bible. So, seems like we are NOT upholding the constitutional and biblical principles with this bill.

To fix this bill, the following needs to be done by the legislature:

• Let’s rename the bill so as not to prey on the average Florida citizen with “bait and switch”. BE HONEST with us!
• Leave the illegal immigration under the Governor NOT the Secretary of Agriculture (what will we do when Florida has a Democrat Secretary of Agriculture like we did with Nikki Freed?).
• Drop the extra bureaucracy and expenditures in the millions targeted for the TRUMP ACT to funnel instead to law enforcement, homelessness, and veterans in our state.

Contact your FL House Representative and Senator to make your opinions known!