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February 7, 2022The House Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee passed HB 1355 (Snyder) on a 13-5 vote. HB 1355 and its companion SB 1808 (Bean) would hinder the ability of Florida child-caring and child-placing organizations to serve unaccompanied migrant children. Catholic ministries have long cared for these vulnerable children fleeing oppression. Specifically, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami has provided for decades home-like shelter and care to unaccompanied children as they wait to reunite with their families.
We are especially concerned with the section of the bill that would prohibit commercial airlines and busing companies from transporting unaccompanied minors into Florida. This directly affects thousands of children and interferes with the federal government's responsibility to place migrant children in safe state-licensed facilities.
Another bill provision requires all law enforcement agencies operating a county detention facility to enter into a 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These agreements heighten distrust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement. Immigrants are less likely to report crimes and assist in certain cases in localities with 287(g) agreements, as they are afraid they will be reported to federal immigration authorities.