Florida Lawmakers Pass Controversial TRUMP Act on Immigration

Florida’s Legislature has passed the TRUMP Act, a sweeping immigration bill allocating $500 million to enforce federal immigration policies. The bill mandates full cooperation between state and federal immigration authorities, creating a new state immigration office and granting emergency enforcement powers to the state’s agriculture commissioner.

Despite Republican control, the measure sparked internal conflicts, with Gov. Ron DeSantis calling it “toothless” while some Republicans sought even tougher measures. The bill enhances penalties for crimes committed by undocumented individuals and repeals in-state tuition for undocumented students. However, it omits key DeSantis-backed provisions, such as restrictions on remittances and automatic flight-risk designations for undocumented individuals.

Democrats strongly opposed the bill, arguing it fosters fear and harms immigrant communities. “This is not what this country was meant for,” said Rep. Jose Alvarez. Some Republicans also dissented, leaving the bill short of a veto-proof majority.

Now, DeSantis must decide whether to sign, veto, or allow the bill to become law. Meanwhile, the bill’s passage underscores Florida’s alignment with Trump’s immigration agenda, as other states, like Tennessee, follow suit with their own crackdowns.