Gov. Ron DeSantis Bans Sanctuary Cities

Eric Schaffer | June 14, 2019
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On Friday, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) plans to sign SB 168 into Florida law. 

The new legislation, which would ban sanctuary cities in the state of Florida, was heavily contested by Democrats, being one of the most contentious issues in Florida’s last gubernatorial election. 

The bill was passed through the Florida House and Senate along party lines, with votes of 22-18 and 68-45 respectively.

The bill, as previously stated, would prohibit local governments from establishing themselves as sanctuary cities for illegal migrants and would require local governments to "use their best efforts to support the enforcement of federal immigration law."

"Earlier this year, Governor DeSantis asked the Florida Legislature to present him with meaningful legislation to uphold the rule of law and ensure that no city or county jurisdiction can get in the way of Florida’s cooperation with our federal partners to enforce immigration law," Helen Ferre, a DeSantis spokeswoman, said in an email to the Orlando Sentinel Thursday.

"Public safety is paramount and local law enforcement agencies can and should work with the federal government to ensure that accountability and justice are one in our state." With the imminent passage of the contentious bill, Florida finds itself in the company of nine other states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Iowa, North Carolina, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee and Texas — in passing laws seeking to make localities comply with federal authorities on immigration law.

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