Florida lawmakers will meet in a special session this week to discuss an immigration package that includes a mandatory death penalty for illegal immigrants convicted of serious crimes, reports "Newsweek", quoted by News.bg.
Last month, the local legislature passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Control Policy, known as the TRUMP Act, after rejecting Gov. Ron DeSantis' proposals. DeSantis criticized the adopted law as “watered down“ and threatened to veto it. This week, lawmakers will debate new, modified versions of the bill that would address his demands.
The special session will begin on February 11, with three bills introduced by Senator Joe Gruters and Representative Lawrence McClure on the agenda. They would:
- Higher penalties for crimes committed by illegal immigrants in Florida.
- Mandatory death penalty for those convicted of serious felonies, such as murder and child rape.
- Maximum sentences for illegal immigrants associated with criminal gangs.
The legislation also proposes the creation of a statewide immigration enforcement council that would include the governor, the agriculture commissioner, the attorney general, and Florida's chief financial officer. The board will approve funding for local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration laws.
But critics argue that the mandatory death penalty is unconstitutional, citing a Supreme Court decision in "Woodson v. North Carolina" that struck down automatic death sentences as "unreasonably harsh and excessively severe".