A Florida Senate Republican introduced a bill Wednesday that would impose harsher criminal penalties on illegal immigrants convicted of felonies after their unauthorized re-entry into the United States following being deported for prior offenses.
The proposal (SB 1036) was introduced by Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, for deliberation during the 2024 legislative session, which is scheduled to commence on January 9.
A similar recommendation was included in a statewide grand jury’s November report investigating matters about unauthorized immigration.
Read: Florida’s Strike Force: Mitigating Fallout From Border Crisis Experienced In Other States
A person who is deported and subsequently returns to Florida with the intention of committing a new crime would be subject to increased penalties under the proposed legislation.
As an example, an offense typically classified as a third-degree felony could be reclassified as a second-degree felony.
Individuals who commit crimes for the benefit of “transnational crime” organizations, which the bill defines as engaging in activities such as drug and human trafficking, could face harsher penalties under the rule.
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