Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) is the sponsor of several bills pertaining to immigration this session. Among them, SB 1174 further restricts community identification cards to preclude local governments from not only issuing them or funding them, but also from accepting them. SB 1324 would establish criminal penalties for unlicensed driving. SM 598 is a memorial bill which urges the federal government to secure the southern border of the United States and reform our broken immigration system.
In a letter to Ingoglia, Michael Sheedy, FCCB executive director, raised points for consideration. “We recognize a country’s right and responsibility to manage its borders in accordance with the common good, and Florida’s bishops, along with their brother bishops across the United States, have been vocal proponents of immigration reform for many years,” wrote Sheedy. The letter noted the positive contributions of migrants to local economies and communities, and the need to respect the dignity of those compelled to migrate.
Sheedy addressed concerns with SB 1174 and SB 1324. The bills would only exacerbate an existing problem, creating ramifications for all parties when accidents inevitably occur involving unlicensed, uninsured, and undocumented individuals. “We urge you and your colleagues to reconsider these proposals as we earnestly seek federal remedies for our immigration system,” Sheedy noted.
On Tuesday, FCCB expressed its opposition to SB 1324 during a meeting of the Senate Transportation Committee, where the bill was approved by unanimous vote. SB 1174 and SM 598 have also been passed by their first committees of reference.