“We are watching disorder and chaos spread through California”: Florida Senator introduces efforts to crack down on illegal immigration
Florida – Florida Senator Ashley Moody has introduced new legislative measures aimed at providing states a significantly stronger role in enforcing immigration rules, a move she says is urgently required to address growing concerns about border security and the placement of unaccompanied migrant children. The pair of bills were unveiled few days ago. The bills would expand the authority of state and local law enforcement while tightening the oversight of children taken into federal custody after crossing the border.
Senator Moody, a Republican, said these reforms are a direct response to what she labels “dangerous and reckless policies” that the Biden administration put in place. She thinks that the federal government has lost control over enforcing immigration laws and hasn’t done enough to protect children who are in danger. It’s time for states to step in and fill the gap.
The Reimbursement for Immigration Partnerships with Police to Allow Local Law Enforcement Act, or RIPPLE Act, is the first of Moody’s proposals. Its goal is to improve the 287(g) program. This federal program lets some state and local police work with federal immigration officials.
Moody’s planned extension would give additional local agencies federal money to cover expenditures related to immigration enforcement. This would let sworn police work directly with federal officials. Supporters claim the law will make things easier for federal agents and operate as a “force multiplier” until more federal officers can be hired and trained.
The Stop Government Abandonment and Placement Scandals Act (Stop GAPS Act), which is Moody’s second proposal, focuses on how unaccompanied migrant children are treated. The federal Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR), which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, has a lot of power under present legislation to put children with individuals or organizations who want to take care of them, often without the state being involved.
Moody’s measure would make it such that the ORR has to work directly with states during the placement process. It would also make it so that these children have to be tracked until their immigration proceedings are over.
The law comes after reports, including one from a Florida grand jury, raised concerns about cases when unaccompanied youngsters were said to have been put in dangerous situations or lost track of altogether. Moody says that children are at risk because of poor vetting and coordination. She calls the current system “middlemen for mass human trafficking operations.”
“Expanding the 287(g) program will provide resources to state law enforcement to more efficiently get dangerous criminals out of our communities. Right now, we are watching disorder and chaos spread through California. This bill will ensure that our local, state and federal law enforcement have the resources they need to hold those who break the law accountable. This lawlessness will not be tolerated,” Sen. Moody said in a statement.
Moody, who used to be Florida’s Attorney General, highlighted that she wants to work closely with former President Trump to change what she calls broken border policies. She says that the additional steps will solve the problems that are now present and keep them from happening again in the future.
People who support the two measures will likely have strong reactions, as will people who are against them and are worried about how they will affect federal-state ties and the health of migrant children. As the discussion goes on, Moody’s proposals will be part of the continuing national argument about immigration, border security, and the difference between state and federal power.
More details about the proposed legislation can be found on Sen. Moody’s official site.
