US immigration law: Florida immigrants may be affected by changes

On Behalf of | Jun 19, 2019 | U.s. Immigration Law |

It is no secret that staying updated on immigration-related issues can be quite challenging due to how often the laws and regulations change. The governor of Florida recently signed a bill regarding U.S. immigration law that is likely to have an impact on many immigrants in this state. Many people have been talking about the new state regulations, and as is common regarding immigration topics, opinions range from fully supportive to strongly opposed.

Even though no Florida city has enacted sanctuary policies to help immigrants avoid deportation, Governor Ron DeSantis saw fit to sign a bill that prohibits local governments from ever doing so. The governor stated that he believes sanctuary cities help people to skirt the law and that he has taken steps to make sure that doesn’t happen in Florida. Those who oppose the newly signed bill say it seems more like a campaign ploy than anything truly meant to serve the public good.

When the bill was passing through state legislature, immigrant advocates gathered at the Capitol to protest, saying that enacting such laws would likely lead to immigrant profiling. Advocates also expressed concern that crime victims and witnesses would hesitate to come forward even if new sanctuary laws included exemptions on their behalf. Immigrant advocates concerned about possible civil rights violations warned immigrants in other states to avoid traveling to Florida.

This is not the only state where debates have arisen regarding U.S. immigration law, especially regarding sanctuary cities. Anyone currently facing legal status challenges because of such issues may wish to speak with an experienced immigration law attorney. An attorney stays updated on recent law changes and can help determine a best course of action in a particular set of circumstances.

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