Gabrielle Russon
Florida Senate Democratic Leader Jason Pizzo is critical of Republicans for not doing enough to stop illegal immigration by cracking down on employers hiring undocumented workers.
Now, the Democrat from Sunny Isles Beach is sponsoring a new bill to require all employers, no matter how many employees they have, to use E-Verify to confirm new hires can legally be employed.
“Florida Republicans have insisted that we are in an immigration crisis. We are,” Pizzo said in a statement late Monday. “However, declaring a state of emergency, passing a few messaging bills, creating transport programs, and blowing millions of taxpayer dollars do not make us the ‘toughest in the nation’ on illegal immigration. Alas, we find ourselves at the end of a third ‘Special Session’ in three weeks because we just can’t seem to get it right.”
Any employer, which includes private companies, public agencies, and subcontractors, violating the law would face stricter punishments under Pizzo’s SB 782.
The state would revoke or suspend the employer’s licenses for one year and issue a fine up to $10,000.
If the employer broke the law three times, the fine would rise up to $250,000 and all licenses would be permanently revoked.
If an employer broke the law and an incident happened where somebody died as a result of the undocumented worker’s actions, the fine would be $500,000.
The fines would go to the Florida Highway Patrol to help them enforce immigration laws.
If the bill is passed when the Legislature convenes March 4, Pizzo’s bill would take effect July 1.
Gov. Ron DeSantis said he is supportive of expanding Florida’s 2023 E-Verify law which currently only applies to employers with at least 25 employees.
“Some of the people in the Legislature, like even one of the Democrats, is pointing out, ‘Why don’t we just say all, all hires?’” DeSantis said last week. “And I’m for that. I think we should do that. All hires should be given E-Verify.”
DeSantis signed an immigration legislative package last week that makes entering Florida illegally a crime at the state level, requires the death penalty for undocumented migrants convicted of capital offenses and gives $250 million to local enforcement to help with immigration enforcement.
During the debate, Pizzo called the bills weak as he spoke out during the third Special Session on immigration.
“We all know that the largest incentive for illegal immigrants to come to United States is earning a living,” Pizzo said when he tried to sponsor an amendment. “If we’re going to be tough on illegal immigration … we should be honest with ourselves and require all employers in Florida to use E-Verify.”
Senate President Ben Albritton ruled Pizzo’s amendment was “out of order” during the Special Session so the Democrat’s proposal was not allowed to get voted on during the floor.
“It was ruled out of order because everything we’re doing in this bill was about the infrastructure of state government, not the private sector. It didn’t fit within the call,” Albritton said afterward, adding he expected the issue to be brought back up during the Regular Session and he is “potentially” open to expanding E-Verify.
5 comments
SuzyQ
February 17, 2025 at 11:02 pm
America’s Governor and Florida’s top Democrat in the Florida Senate are in agreement, perhaps along with the new Florida Senate President. Politics make strange bedfellows, but it’s step in the RIGHT direction for Florida Democrats in the Florida Senate.
Scott M
February 18, 2025 at 8:59 am
I like the bill in principle. ALL employees should be run through eVerify. But as they say, the devil is in the details. Suspending an employers license for one year and fining them $10,000 for the first offense is a bit draconian and sure to draw the ire of business lobbyists and most pro-business Republicans (could THAT have been Senator Pizzo’s intention?). Now if you changed it to a $10,000 fine for the first infraction, a $10,000 fine and 3-month license suspension for the second and a $100,000 fine and a one-year suspension for the third, I think you would have a bill actually designed to pass…and NOT one designed simply to score political points.
Paul Passarelli
February 18, 2025 at 9:07 am
I’m pleased to agree with Scott. It’s satisfying when someone else points out that Democrats are stupid-mean. I’ve always thought it was me. Just my enhanced senses of perception, that allowed me to notice what so many are asleep to.
Paul Passarelli
February 18, 2025 at 9:02 am
I support the law with a minor revision. Every time an employer uses the system, and successfully get an e-Verify they earn points, they can use to pay down any fines.
And every time the system throws an error, the employer earns 100X points, and one ‘get out of jail free’ certificate.
I do think the laws should be draconian to ‘discourage’ employers from hiring illegal aliens. But if the law includes an government compliance step, then that step must be above reproach. Meaning that since the government can’t be ‘fined or suspended’ by the employers, it must still yield a suitable penalty for lack of compliance with the law.
Otherwise this proposed ‘law’ is just another blathering Democrat throwing up smoke & noise.
Nader
February 18, 2025 at 4:22 pm
It’s time to hold the employers responsible.. We seem to be OK with holding junkies responsible for their addiction, We should also hold people that are making money off of illegal immigration responsible. Frankly, I think the proposed vines are not high enough time to put these people out of business. It’s about America first and not their bottom line