PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – One of the strictest anti-immigration laws in the country is now in effect in Florida, and that’s Senate Bill 1718.
It invalidates out of state driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants, requires hospitals to ask patients about immigration status, allocates more money for migrant relocations and requires businesses to use a system to verify immigration status for employees.
Some are concerned their work and healthcare could be at risk but supporters of the bill believe the state is addressing an issue the federal government has failed to address.
As the law takes effect, the Southern Poverty Law Center, American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Florida, Americans for Immigrant Justice, and the American Immigration Council plan to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new law.
It is expected to be filed sometime next week.
They also hope to promote naturalizing eligible people to increase electoral participation in the United States.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated that the American Business Immigration Coalition planned to file a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new law. The ABIC confirmed to Local 10 that it is not part of that effort, but does plan to announce a new campaign “for a federal initiative that will provide work permits to undocumented workers and their families.”