immigration

Florida lawmakers and Governor Ron DeSantis have finally reached consensus, passing two immigration reform bills this week, but the process to get there has reshaped the relationships and power dynamics among the state’s top government leaders.

Quickly signed into law by the governor, the wide-ranging plan toughens penalties for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants; creates a statewide immigration enforcement panel; imposes the death penalty for undocumented immigrants who commit first-degree murder or rape children; and makes it a state crime for undocumented immigrants to enter the state.

Protesters are upset that the Florida Legislature is crafting immigration policy to assist the Trump Administration. They’re also protesting immigration raids.

The new session, scheduled to start Tuesday at noon, comes after Governor Ron DeSantis pledged to veto the package lawmakers passed in January.

The protest was part of a national wave of protests against the Trump administration and the president's most prominent donor.

It began on social media and quickly spread

DeSantis announced Monday he’s scheduling the special session for the week of Jan. 27.

A University of Florida research employee and students have been implicated in an illegal, multi-million dollar scheme investigated by the Justice Department to fraudulently buy thousands of biochemical samples of dangerous drugs and toxins that were delivered to a campus laboratory then illicitly shipped to China over seven years, according to federal court records.

A University of South Florida team found a majority of registered voters across the political spectrum support more agents and barriers along the U.S. southern border.

The measure was one of a host of bills DeSantis the governor signed during a Friday press conference in Winter Haven meant to continue his undocumented migrant crackdown.