DeSantis signs sweeping immigration bill into law day before Title 42 expires

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a sweeping immigration bill that imposing tough penalties and new restrictions on undocumented immigrants in his state and gives the Republican lawmaker an additional $12 million for a migrant relocation program.

Last year, the Republican governor flew roughly 50, mostly Venezuelan asylum-seekers from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard off the Massachusetts coast. 

The bill was approved last week by the Florida Legislature and is considered among the toughest steps taken recently by any state to deter illegal migrants from arriving, according to USA Today Network. 

"We have to stop this nonsense, this is not good for our country," DeSantis said in signing the bill Wednesday, one day before the end of enforcement for Title 42, the public health rule activated by the Trump administration at the start of the pandemic to quickly remove asylum seekers instead of allowing them to stay in the U.S. until their court hearing.

The end of Title 42 is bringing a surge of migrants to the southern U.S. border.

"The Biden Border Crisis has wreaked havoc across the United States and has put Americans in danger," DeSantis, a possible 2024 presidential candidate, also said. 

"In Florida, we will not stand idly by while the federal government abandons its lawful duties to protect our country. The legislation I signed today gives Florida the most ambitious anti-illegal immigration laws in the country."

The bill will enhances penalties for human smuggling and strengthens employment requirements including making an employer with 25 or more workers use the federal electronic system E-Verify to check the immigration status of potential new hires, the USA Today Network also reports .

The bill will also prohibit local governments and non-governmental organizations from using taxpayer dollars to pay for illegal migrants' IDs. It also makes it a felony for illegal migrants to use a fake ID to get a job, USA also reports.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.