DeSantis signs bill banning sanctuary cities

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a bill on Friday to ban “sanctuary cities” in the state.

The controversial bill, sponsored by state Rep. Cord Byrd (R), will prohibit “sanctuary” policies that protect undocumented immigrants from deportation. It will also require state and local law enforcement agencies to work with federal immigration officials to identify immigrants in Florida who don’t have legal status.{mosads}

The law mandates that law enforcement detain someone if there’s probable cause that they’re “removable” under federal immigration laws, The Miami Herald reports.

There are no sanctuary cities in Florida.

DeSantis tweeted he was “proud to sign the bill” to “uphold the rule of law and ensure that our communities are safe.”

Earlier this year, I made a promise that we would ban sanctuary cities in Florida and today we are delivering on that promise. I am proud to sign the bill presented to me by the FL Legislature to uphold the rule of law and ensure that our communities are safe. pic.twitter.com/xKQDOPRBHx

— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) June 14, 2019

During the signing, members of the crowd around DeSantis wore red “Make America Great Again” hats as they cheered in support of bill at the mention of President Trump, The Associated Press reported.

Dozens tweeted praise and thanked DeSantis for signing the bill, with one user saying “I knew I moved to Florida for a reason.”

I knew I moved to Florida for a reason. Happy to see this.

— Joel1245 (@Holmes1245) June 14, 2019

Critics say the measure is unconstitutional and violates the Fourth Amendment.

“The legislation inhumanely separates families, tearing apart parents and their children, while doing nothing to address legitimate public safety concerns,” Scott McCoy, senior policy counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, wrote in a statement. “This can have traumatic long-term effects on our youth and our communities.”

With the bill set to go into effect next month, legal challenges to its constitutionality are expected, The Miami Herald reported.