Governor Ron DeSantis has intensified Florida’s immigration policies by signing three new laws aimed at facilitating the deportation of undocumented immigrants. These measures align with President Donald Trump‘s mass deportation plan and are creating growing uncertainty among migrant communities, who now face a more restrictive and hostile environment.
The new laws strengthen Florida’s stance against illegal immigration by imposing harsher penalties on immigrants who reoffend after deportation. The measures also prohibit the use of identification documents issued by other jurisdictions, such as driver’s licenses or REAL ID cards. Among the most controversial proposals is the potential to relocate immigrants out of the United States, a move that has sparked intense national debate.
Ron DeSantis stated that Florida will play a crucial role in carrying out Donald Trump’s immigration policies, focusing particularly on deportations and strict border control.
New Laws by Ron DeSantis to Deport Undocumented Immigrants in Florida
Governor Ron DeSantis has signed three bills to further Trump’s 2025 Project and facilitate deportations in Florida:
- SB 1036: This bill increases penalties for individuals who return to the U.S. after being deported. Sentences are drastically increased, from five years to 15 years in some cases, and even life imprisonment for repeat offenders convicted of serious crimes. It also strengthens penalties against individuals who collaborate with drug cartels.
- HB 1451: This law prohibits counties and municipalities from accepting identification cards issued by other jurisdictions for undocumented immigrants. Florida already restricts the issuance of driver’s licenses to undocumented individuals, and this new law reinforces that policy.
- HB 1589: This bill increases penalties for driving without a license, raising the maximum sentence from 60 days to one year in jail for repeat offenders. It also establishes a mandatory minimum sentence of ten days for habitual offenders.
According to DeSantis, these measures aim to maintain order and security in Florida, preparing the state to collaborate with the mass deportation policies of Trump’s administration.
DeSantis and His Role in Trump’s 2025 Project
Ron DeSantis has emphasized that Florida will play a critical role in implementing the new immigration measures of Donald Trump. The governor plans to expand the Unauthorized Alien Transportation Program (UATP), which in 2022 facilitated the transportation of undocumented immigrants to other states. For this initiative, DeSantis seeks authority to deport immigrants directly out of the U.S., a power currently reserved for the federal government.
Through the 2025 Project, the Trump administration aims to eliminate humanitarian parole and birthright citizenship, reducing the support these programs provide to immigrant families. The strategy also involves increasing raids at sensitive locations, such as workplaces, churches, schools, and hospitals. Led by Tom Homan, appointed as the “border czar,” this initiative is already being carried out in several cities across the country.
DeSantis has reiterated that his administration is prepared to support Trump’s actions, stating that Florida “will not tolerate illegal immigration or the anarchy of the undocumented.”
