Protestors gathered in Southwest Florida to rally against upcoming state laws targeting immigrants. These laws, set to be enforced from July 1, will have significant implications for thousands of immigrants residing and working in the area.
The new requirements include:
- E-Verify Usage in Hiring: Starting in July, businesses with 25 or more employees must use E-Verify, ensuring that all new hires are authorized to work legally in the U.S. Failure to comply may result in daily fines of $1,000 and, for repeated violations, potential loss of the business license.
- Criminal Penalties: Knowingly and willingly assisting someone who entered the U.S. into the state can lead to third-degree felony charges.
- Reciprocity for Driver’s Licenses: Individuals holding a driver’s license from a state that grants them to undocumented immigrants without proof of legal presence will be prohibited from driving a motor vehicle in Florida.
- Immigration Status Checks at Hospitals: Hospitals accepting Medicaid must include a citizenship status question on their forms and report quarterly to the Health Care Administration regarding the number of undocumented patients they treat.
- DNA Requirements: Individuals taken into custody by law enforcement for immigration-related reasons will be required to provide a DNA sample upon booking into jail.
