TALLAHASSEE, FL - Among of raft of measures designed to make the state of Florida less hospitable to illegal immigrants, Governor Ron DeSantis reportedly signed SB 4-C into law less than an hour after receiving it from the legislature. The new law provides for enhanced criminal penalties for illegal immigrants, from stricter penalties for misdemeanors to imposing a mandator death sentence on any illegal immigrant “who is convicted or adjudicated guilty of a capital felony,” most prominently first-degree murder or child rape.
According to the text of SB 4-C the law requires, “Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the court shall sentence a defendant who is an unauthorized alien and who is convicted or adjudicated guilty of a capital felony to a sentence of death.”
As noted by The Associated Press, Governor Ron DeSantis said “Florida will be safer and securer,” as a result of these reforms. Republican state Rep. Lawrence McClure added, “Don’t come to the state of Florida illegally. That’s the premise.”
State leaders expect the new law to be challenged in court on the basis of a 1976 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which struck down a North Carolina mandatory death sentence for first-degree murder. Republican state Sen. Randy Fine told the AP that while he understands the legislation is likely to face challenges, he expects the present Supreme Court to overturn its almost fifty-year-old ruling. “It’s almost 50 years later,” he said, observing, “The Supreme Court changes its mind on things.”
In addition to the mandatory death penalty, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison with a $5,000 fine for an American citizen would be enhanced to a second degree felony carrying a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of $10,000. The law also makes it a misdemeanor for any illegal immigrants over 18 years of age to “knowingly” enter the state “after entering the United States by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers.”
Addressing the disagreements between him and prominent Republicans in the Florida House and Senate when he signed the bills on February 13, Gov. DeSantis said, “I have no hard feelings at all. You know, these are not easy issues. There were differences of opinion about how to go about it, the timing, the substances, and we brought it all in for a landing, and we’re better off as a result of having done that.”
According to the text of SB 4-C the law requires, “Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the court shall sentence a defendant who is an unauthorized alien and who is convicted or adjudicated guilty of a capital felony to a sentence of death.”
As noted by The Associated Press, Governor Ron DeSantis said “Florida will be safer and securer,” as a result of these reforms. Republican state Rep. Lawrence McClure added, “Don’t come to the state of Florida illegally. That’s the premise.”
State leaders expect the new law to be challenged in court on the basis of a 1976 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which struck down a North Carolina mandatory death sentence for first-degree murder. Republican state Sen. Randy Fine told the AP that while he understands the legislation is likely to face challenges, he expects the present Supreme Court to overturn its almost fifty-year-old ruling. “It’s almost 50 years later,” he said, observing, “The Supreme Court changes its mind on things.”
In addition to the mandatory death penalty, a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison with a $5,000 fine for an American citizen would be enhanced to a second degree felony carrying a prison sentence of up to 15 years and a fine of $10,000. The law also makes it a misdemeanor for any illegal immigrants over 18 years of age to “knowingly” enter the state “after entering the United States by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers.”
Florida leads the nation in cracking down on illegal immigration. I stood with @POTUS to support SB 2-C, SB 4-C & SM 6-C to protect our communities!
— Kevin Steele (@KevinSteeleFL) February 16, 2025
Florida is enforcing the law and securing our borders. #AmericaFirst pic.twitter.com/TaBIoWwCyd
Addressing the disagreements between him and prominent Republicans in the Florida House and Senate when he signed the bills on February 13, Gov. DeSantis said, “I have no hard feelings at all. You know, these are not easy issues. There were differences of opinion about how to go about it, the timing, the substances, and we brought it all in for a landing, and we’re better off as a result of having done that.”
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Comments
2025-03-02T16:08-0500 | Comment by: Dawn
We need this sort of law in every state and for the laws to be enforced!
2025-03-02T18:41-0500 | Comment by: Larry
I remember mandatory death sentence for cop killers and federal officers…years ago , never materialized
2025-03-03T10:10-0500 | Comment by: Laurence
Every state, especially Communist California, should pass such strict laws. Criminal illegals have invaded our country and caused huge amounts of crime.