The bill amends section 908.104 of the Florida Statutes to enhance the cooperation between law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities in enforcing immigration laws. It mandates that law enforcement agencies must support federal immigration law enforcement, replacing the previous language that allowed them to do so at their discretion. Additionally, the bill requires these agencies to securely transport individuals subject to immigration detainers to federal facilities, rather than allowing them the option to do so. It also specifies that law enforcement must obtain judicial authorization before transporting individuals outside of the state.
Furthermore, the bill clarifies that state and local entities are not obligated to provide federal immigration agencies with information about victims or witnesses of crimes if there is an ongoing investigation or prosecution, provided that these individuals cooperate with law enforcement. The bill includes provisions for documenting such cooperation and retaining records for audit purposes. It also ensures that the protections for victims and witnesses of certain serious crimes remain intact, even if they are unlawfully present in the U.S. Lastly, the bill includes a severability clause to maintain the validity of the remaining provisions if any part of the act is found invalid.