On Monday, January 13, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called a special session to meet with his Legislatures in two weeks to discuss plans to pass a major immigration bill. 

The bill is set to match the future policies that President Donald Trump will enact in office. Some of the procedures DeSantis wishes to include in this bill are to “Repeal in-state college tuition for illegal immigrant students” and to “establish a state crime for entering the U.S. illegally and a process for self-deportation.” Many more guidelines have been suggested including the appointment of a “state immigration enforcement officer,” which will help oversee and strengthen the power which state and local authorities have over illegal immigration.  

DeSantis hopes this bill will resolve the growing concern of illegal immigration that he says is amidst the state. When addressing the importance of these policies, DeSantis stated, “There’s been no issue higher on the radar consistently so over these last four years than the immigration issue.” Intent on reducing this issue, DeSantis already plans to strictly enforce the bill by highly encouraging law enforcement to follow the immigration policies to come. 

While the bill allows law enforcement to minimize the number of illegal immigrants entering the state and aiding the federal government in reducing this problem, millions of lives will potentially be jeopardized. Families will be taken from their homes, and jobs that many of these illegal immigrants occupy will go vacant, compromising the state’s economy.

Some may feel that this bill as a step in the right direction, while others may believe it’s a step back. But regardless, it’s clear that this bill will affect countless people living in Florida and the way the state functions.