Package of laws passed makes Florida the most anti-immigrant state in the US

After 90 minutes of debates, the Florida House approved on Tuesday, the 2nd, a package of measures designed to significantly complicate the lives of undocumented immigrants living in the state.

The bill, which had already been approved by the State Senate, passed with votes from conservative Republicans and could harm Florida's tourism and economy.

Here's what the law package includes:

• Allocates $12 million for Florida to transport undocumented individuals out of the state;
• Requires every company with 25 or more employees to use the E-Verify program before hiring any immigrant;
• Demands that hospitals using Medicaid funds (a United States social health program for families and individuals with low income and limited resources) include a citizenship question in emergencies before attending to immigrant patients;
• Considers anyone who transports undocumented immigrants from another state to Florida as a human trafficker;
• Invalidates the driver's license of those who have a license from another state and live in Florida;
• Repeals the law approved during Rick Scott's (R) administration, which allowed undocumented immigrants to take the Bar exam to become lawyers in Florida.

And Governor Ron DeSantis and the conservatives wanted to go further. They attempted to repeal an education law that currently allows undocumented students to pay the same as Americans in colleges if they have studied high school in Florida for at least three years. However, this was not approved.

In the coming weeks, DeSantis is expected to announce his candidacy for the Republican nomination for the presidency of the USA.

The package that goes to the governor's desk clearly has the potential to position DeSantis for the 2024 campaign against the also anti-immigrant Donald J. Trump.