A.G. Gancarski
Florida’s Governor has a chance for another crackdown on illegal immigration this year, with a bill hitting his desk that cracks down on identification cards that have been used by some localities in the past.
HB 1451 bans “counties & municipalities, respectively, from accepting certain ID cards or documents that are knowingly issued to individuals who are not lawfully present” in the U.S.
The bill was sponsored by Republican Reps. Kiyan Michael and Berny Jacques in the House and ultimately was substituted for Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia’s “carbon copy” of that version in the Senate.
The bill deals with an isolated problem largely solved in Florida already. Various South Florida jurisdictions have accepted such identification in recent years, though those initiatives stopped being funded last Summer.
The House sponsors made a strong case for the legislation ahead of passage.
Jacques cited the “invasion” at the “open (Joe) Biden borders” and the need to “stop the scourge of illegal immigration,” noting that previous legislation and the Governor sending state forces to the Mexican border as emblematic of the state’s commitment.
“This bill was passed last year,” said Michael, who added that she was “just getting started” with legislation to crack down on illegal immigration. Her personal stake in this issue is well known; she had a son killed by an undocumented immigrant when George W. Bush was President.
It’s unlikely that Gov. DeSantis will veto this, meanwhile, and it is likely he will sign this at a press conference in Michael’s Jacksonville market, where he has brought his anti-illegal immigration events many times in the past. A recent visit to Duval County saw an announced Texas deployment for the reactivated Florida State Guard.
The Governor has also questioned the “entitlement” displayed by some undocumented immigrants.
“You see some of these images, you see some of these people in New York City committing crimes, and the sense of entitlement on some of these illegal aliens is unbelievable. They act like they have a right to illegally come into our country,” DeSantis said. “I’m sorry, you do not have that right.”
9 comments
Ignoring it won’t make it go away
March 12, 2024 at 6:39 pm
Hospitals are required to gather citizenship status according to laws passed last year to track resources. But they don’t have much recourse if people refuse or provide false information. The US is the only country (that I know of) which does not refuse treatment for lack of ability to pay up front. Every other country will turn you away at the door. So it gets a lot of last resort medical tourism as well as uninsured. Florida take huge brunt of this. How are communities really able to track effectively without a reliable and enforceable identification mechanism? Agree laminated paper cards are outdated and stupid. India solved this problem already. Regardless of citizenship status you can’t do anything in that country without a personal identification number that contains all the other status information. Just think of the impact for tax, law enforcement, public health, etc. Not a fan of big government but sticking heads in sand is just plain stupid.
MH/Duuuval
March 13, 2024 at 9:56 am
“Medical tourism from wwwnc.cdc.gov
Traveling Internationally for Medical Care. Each year, millions of US residents travel to another country for medical care which is called medical tourism.”
It appears there is more than one kind of medical tourism. My question is, How does some impoverished person living abroad get to the US for free care?
Lex
March 13, 2024 at 8:34 am
I think ID cards are a great idea for illegals, so long as the ID cannot be confused with other official forms of ID. Knowing who is in the country and having biometrics for those people is important to keeping people accountable. In my mind’s eye, I would rather the illegal have an official government ID than have no way to know the person.
MH/Duuuval
March 13, 2024 at 9:59 am
IDs for asylum seekers would also make it simpler for law enforcement to avoid unnecessary harassment and arrests.
Evelyn
March 13, 2024 at 6:51 pm
One plus, is the illegals would be required to have their pictures taken just as we do when renewing our driver licenses.Also, how about fingerprinting any illegal. would help law enforcement.
This would create a huge data base that could be used in the enforcement of our laws. I hate that we have so many illegals in our country as it is a real hard slap in the face of all those who followed the proper pathways.
MH/Duuuval
March 13, 2024 at 9:15 pm
Nix to the fingerprinting — it’s stigmatizing. A photo ID ought to be sufficient since parolees have paperwork issued with an assigned court date.
LOL Come on
March 14, 2024 at 1:56 am
LOL. You have to submit to fingerprinting and full FBI background check for ANY professional license in the state of Florida, to work at a day care center or a bank or insurance or join the military. In other words, in order to join professional society. We should all revolt since that’s stigmatizing. But crossing a national border illegally, committing an actual crime, and we don’t want to hurt anyone’s feelings. Come on. When does the bleeding stop? Equal treatment under the law also means equal application of the law. BTW, when’s the last time you tried to sneak across the Mexican or Canadian border? Cause if you’re caught, they ain’t having it. And they don’t want you unless you’re an under 50 professional with $400k in the bank and a steady stream of residual income. LOL stigmatizing.
MH/Duuuval
March 14, 2024 at 10:43 am
When every citizen has their fingerprints taken routinely by the government, then your plan becomes acceptable. A photo ID — based on parole documents held by the federal government — is enough information to start with.
Dj
March 18, 2024 at 1:31 pm
Never enough information on illegals. Given parole papers and a court date is a joke. They disappear into the USA and are lost forever, never to be Sean again, unless they commit a crime. Wake up folks.
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