Florida legislators gathered in Tallahassee on Monday, January 27, 2025, to convene for a special session called by Governor DeSantis to address a range of topics, including immigration. After a short period of announcements, the House and Senate adjourned, only to re-adjourn in a separate special session called by legislative leaders to take up and pass their own immigration legislation instead of the governor's broader plan.
Legislators Pass Immigration Reform; Governor to Veto
Seeking to align state law with expanded enforcement of federal immigration law under President Trump, HB 1B / SB 2B, sponsored by Rep. Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City) and Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota), were heard in committee on Monday and passed by both the Senate (21-16) and the House (82-30) on Tuesday evening. Governor DeSantis has indicated that he will veto the bill.
The measure would establish the Office of State Immigration Enforcement and designate the Commissioner of Agriculture as the Chief Immigration Officer. Over $500 million would be allocated from the state's general revenue fund to enhance state and local enforcement efforts and ensure collaboration with federal authorities.
Of concern to the FCCB, the measure would eliminate in-state tuition waivers for undocumented students at Florida’s public universities and colleges. There is no provision for students who have already begun their advanced studies. It is noteworthy that the bill would preserve in-state tuition for those who are "lawfully present" in the US, which includes those with temporary protective status (TPS), those with asylum claims, DACA recipients and others. Bill sponsors argued that by removing incentives, such as in-state tuition waivers, undocumented immigrants would be deterred from coming to Florida.
Initially passed with bipartisan support, in-state tuition waivers are granted to students who were brought into the US as children and have attended a Florida high school for at least 3 consecutive years. These students tend to be hard-working and goal-oriented, with high academic standing. The vast majority attend colleges with open enrollment. By allowing them to maximize their academic potential, they are best able to make positive economic contributions to the state.
Additionally, the legislation would increase criminal penalties for certain crimes when committed by an undocumented immigrant. Of particular concern to the FCCB, it would make the death penalty mandatory if an illegal immigrant is convicted of a capital offense, including murder or rape of a child. This provision conflicts with established legal precedent. For Church teaching on the death penalty, click here.
Bishops Seek Immigration Reform at the Federal Level
For decades, Florida’s bishops, along with their brother bishops across the US, have been consistent in their calls for Congress to pass multifaceted reform of the nation’s immigration system. Church teaching recognizes a country’s right and responsibility to promote public order, safety, and security through well-regulated borders and just limits on immigration. The remedy for our inadequate immigration system should take place at the federal level, not through piecemeal policies at the state level. The USCCB has identified six elements of reform that are grounded in Catholic social teaching and the Church’s teaching on migration, specifically:
Element 1: Enforcement efforts should be targeted, proportional, and humane
Element 2: Humanitarian protections and due process should be ensured
Element 3: Long-time residents should have an earned pathway to citizenship
Element 4: Family unity should remain a cornerstone of the U.S. system
Element 5: Legal pathways should be expanded, reliable, and efficient
Element 6: The root causes of forced migration should be addressed
To read more about these elements of reform, click here.
Recent Immigration Statements from the USCCB
The US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) has issued the following statements in response to recent actions by the Trump Administration pertaining to immigration:
USCCB Statement on its Work with the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program
“Human Dignity is Not Dependent on a Person's Citizenship or Immigration Status”
Executive Actions Will Subject Vulnerable Families and Children to Grave Danger, says Bishop Seitz
Statement of Archbishop Broglio on Executive Orders Signed by the President
