Speaker Richard Corcoran Praises Trump Administration Action On Sanctuary Cities And Promises The Florida House Will Address The Issue Again This Legislative Session

The Trump Administration and the Florida House are Committed to the Rule of Law and Opposing Amnesty of Any Kind

Tallahassee, FL – Today, Speaker of the Florida House Richard Corcoran issued the following statement in support of the Trump Administration’s commitment to crack down on sanctuary cities.

“The idea that a city decides what laws it will follow and what laws it will ignore should offend every American. Politicians who believe they are above the law by adopting “sanctuary” policies are violating their oath to uphold and defend the Constitution. The Florida House has passed legislation this past Session that would have stopped this practice in Florida, and we will continue to support efforts by the President and his administration to ensure that our nation’s existing immigration laws are properly enforced.”

Chairman Larry  Metz, author of HB 697, said, “Although the federal government has primary responsibility for the enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws, state and local governmental entities also have a responsibility to comply with the law and cooperate with federal enforcement efforts. Unfortunately, some state and local governmental entities have adopted or allowed sanctuary policies that not only refuse such cooperation, but actively seek to thwart federal immigration enforcement field illegal immigrants from the consequences of their actions.”

According to the Hill newspaper, “Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Acting Director Thomas Homan on Tuesday said he plans to further crack down on undocumented immigrants by sending more resources and agents to sanctuary cities…In the America I grew up in, cities didn’t shield people who violated the law,” Homan told the publication. “What I want to get is a clear understanding from everybody, from the congressmen to the politicians to law enforcement to those who enter the country illegally, that ICE is open for business.”

“We’re going to enforce the laws on the books without apology, we’ll continue to prioritize what we do,” Homan continued. “But it’s not OK to violate the laws of this country anymore, you’re going to be held accountable.”

During the 2016 – 17 legislative session, the Florida House of Representatives introduced HB 697 (Chairman Larry Metz – R – Groveland) entitled the “Rule of Law Adherence Act.” Although the federal government has broad powers over immigration enforcement, federal immigration agencies rely on state and local law enforcement agencies to assist and cooperate in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. HB 697 would have required state and local governments and law enforcement agencies, including their officials and employees, to support and cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

Specifically, the bill would have:

  • Prohibited a state or local governmental entity or law enforcement agency from having a law, policy, practice, procedure, or custom which impedes a law enforcement agency from communicating or cooperating with a federal immigration agency on immigration enforcement;
  • Prohibited any restriction on a state or local governmental entity or law enforcement agency’s ability to use, maintain, or exchange immigration information for certain enumerated purposes;
  • Required a state or local governmental entity and law enforcement agency to comply with and support the enforcement of federal immigration law;
  • Provided procedures for a law enforcement agency and court to follow when an arrested person cannot provide proof of lawful presence in the United States or is subject to an immigration detainer;
  • Required any sanctuary policies currently in effect be repealed within 90 days of the effective date of the Act;
  • Authorized a board of county commissioners to enact an ordinance to recover costs for complying with an immigration detainer;
  • Required an official or employee of a state or local governmental entity or law enforcement agency to
  • report a violation of the Act to the Attorney General or state attorney, failure to report a violation may result in suspension or removal from office;
  • Authorized the Attorney General or a state attorney to seek an injunction against a state or local governmental entity or law enforcement agency that violates the Act;
  • Required a state or local governmental entity or law enforcement agency that violates the Act to pay a civil penalty of at least $1,000 but no more than $5,000 for each day the policy was in effect;
  • Created a civil cause of action for a person injured by the conduct of an alien unlawfully present in the United States against a state or local governmental entity or law enforcement agency whose violation of the Act contributed to the person’s injury;
  • Prohibited the expenditure of public funds to reimburse or defend a public official or employee who violates the Act; and
  • Suspended state grant funding eligibility for 5 years for a state government or local government entity or law enforcement agency that violates the Act
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