Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signed a comprehensive set of immigration laws, aligning with President Donald Trump’s aggressive stance on deportation. These new laws position Florida at the forefront of conservative states leveraging state resources for federal immigration enforcement. The legislation includes a controversial provision mandating the death penalty for unauthorized immigrants committing capital crimes, exceeding Trump’s previous executive orders. The signing of these bills followed a tense standoff among top Republicans in Florida, ultimately resulting in a compromise brokered by legislative leaders.

The $298 million allocated under these laws will fund the hiring of over 50 new law enforcement officers dedicated to immigration matters, along with grants for local agencies, bonuses for assisting in federal operations, and reimbursement for leasing detention facilities. Additionally, the laws increase penalties for crimes committed by unauthorized immigrants and introduce a new offense for entering the state after illegal entry into the U.S. Despite bipartisan criticism, a provision repealing in-state tuition eligibility for undocumented students in Florida was included.

Meanwhile, other southern states like Alabama and Georgia are advancing similar restrictive measures in line with Trump’s immigration policies. Alabama’s proposed bills aim to verify immigration status in jails, collect DNA from unauthorized immigrants, and penalize bringing undocumented individuals into the state. Georgia’s Senate passed a bill permitting lawsuits against local governments failing to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. These developments have sparked concerns about potential racial profiling and negative impacts on marginalized communities in these states.