Florida lawmakers pass several laws dealing with immigration in the third special session of the year, and President Donald Trump signs new reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners.

DeSantis signs immigration package aimed at increasing criminal penalties and reducing in-state tuition access

Florida Republicans sealed the deal on immigration. Gov. Ron DeSantis tonight signed off a new immigration package, just hours after lawmakers passed the series of laws tackling the issue.

After three attempts, the governor and Republicans in Tallahassee finally struck a deal.

No, it wasn’t pretty, and they argued a lot over the past few weeks, but in the end, a series of bills will now mean Florida is now home to some of the toughest immigration laws in the nation.

Florida will soon pump millions into recruiting more police, build more jail beds and much, much more.

Also, Florida colleges will no longer offer in-state tuition for undocumented migrants.

One bill, HB 3C, will require the death penalty against undocumented migrants for certain crimes.

The bill in short stipulates that if an undocumented migrant is convicted of murder or rape — it’s an automatic capital offense.

“If you don’t want to face the death penalty for committing one of these heinous crimes, number one: don’t do them. Number two: don’t be in a place where you’re not supposed to be,” State Sen. Randy Fine said during deliberations.

However, and as Democrats are noting, the legality of that is murky.

“Punishment for crime should be determined by the offense committed, not by where a person was born,” State Sen. Barbara Sharief said.

The package makes illegal immigration a state-level crime, and it also intensifies all criminal penalties too.

“A criminal illegal immigration who is a member of a gang commits a crime, they will receive the maximum sentence allowed for that crime,” State Sen. Joe Gruters said.

That means local police are now required to help detain and deport the undocumented.

Overseeing all of this, lawmakers will create the state board of immigration enforcement.

That panel will help manage the $300 million earmarked for immigration operations in Florida. They’re also empowered to impose penalties for noncompliance. 

Trump signs a plan for reciprocal tariffs on U.S. trading partners, ushering in economic uncertainty

President Donald Trump on Thursday rolled out his plan to increase U.S. tariffs to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports, possibly triggering a broader economic confrontation with allies and rivals alike as he hopes to eliminate any trade imbalances.

"I’ve decided for purposes of fairness that I will charge a reciprocal tariff," Trump said in the Oval Office at the proclamation signing. “It’s fair to all. No other country can complain.”

Trump's Republican administration has insisted that its new tariffs would level the playing field between U.S. manufacturers and foreign competitors, though under current law these new taxes would likely be paid by American consumers and businesses either directly or in the form of higher prices.

The politics of tariffs could easily backfire on Trump if his agenda pushes up inflation and grinds down growth, making this a high stakes wager for a president eager to declare his authority over the U.S. economy.

The tariff increases would be customized for each country with the partial goal of starting trade new negotiations. But other nations might also feel the need to respond with their own tariff increases on American goods. As a result, Trump may need to find ways to reassure consumers and businesses to counteract any uncertainty caused by his tariffs.

Trump's proclamation identifies value added taxes — which are similar to sales taxes and common in the European Union — as a trade barrier to be included in any reciprocal tariff calculations. Other nations' tariff rates, subsidies to industries, regulations and possible undervaluing of currencies would be among the factors the Trump administration would use to assess tariffs.

Changes proposed for citizen-led ballot amendments to state constitution

Despite getting more than a majority of Florida voters’ support in the November 2024 election, Amendments Three and Four, the legalization of recreational marijuana and the limiting of government interference on abortion, both failed.

Ballot amendments in Florida require 60% of voters to approve them. And now, Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to enact more requirements for citizen-led constitutional amendments to get on the ballot.

The governor’s proposals include eliminating the third-party collection of petition forms required to get an amendment on the ballot. Petitions would have to be submitted directly to a supervisor of elections office in person or through the mail. The changes would also make it a third-degree felony for anyone to pay or get paid for either signing or not signing an amendment petition.

The new proposals would also require the state attorney general to prepare a disclosure that identifies what Florida laws would be repealed if the amendment is approved by voters.