Wednesday, March 29, 2023
Helping an undocumented immigrant in Florida could soon be against the law
https://t.co/7NgAwgGIbh - Helping an undocumented immigrant in Florida could soon be against the law….my oped on why this is an unnecessary and particularly cruel law..
— Elizabeth Aranda (@drlizaaranda) March 26, 2023
"Imagine driving your elderly mother to a doctor’s appointment and being charged with a third-degree felony. Or having your neighbor over for dinner, only to be arrested. Imagine your pastor giving a young couple shelter in your church, only to be taken into police custody.
If passed, SB 1718 would criminalize lending a helping hand if the object of that help is an undocumented immigrant — it tears up the very fabric of social ties and trust that brings cohesion to a community. This isn’t about punishing immigrants who help immigrants — U.S. citizens would be criminalized too for lending support. Which leads to the question: What is the real purpose of this bill?
SB 1718 is intended not only to completely isolate undocumented immigrants from their support networks, but it will instill harm; it is sanctioned state violence against immigrants and U.S. citizens alike, and it is bad policy likely intended to be weaponized politically."
KJ
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2023/03/helping-an-undocumented-immigrant-in-florida-could-soon-be-against-the-law.html