The states of Texas And Florida They count with restrictive immigration laws which share certain similarities. Both jurisdictions give state officials the power to detain people suspected of being in the country illegally and to prohibit collaboration with federal authorities on immigration matters, although there are key differences that highlight the complexity of the immigration landscape in the United States.

One of the most recent debates on the subject in the state of Texas revolves around the HB4 bill, which has similarities to legislation approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida. This initiative, if approved, would significantly impact undocumented migrants by making illegal entry at the border with Mexico a state crime.

The HB4 bill is being promoted by David Spiller, Republican representative from Jacksboro. The goal of this proposal is to give Texas officers the power to detain any person and question them about their legal stay in the country, opening the door to possible deportation.

Scholars highlight similarities between Texas and Florida immigration laws. In an article published in the magazine Political geography, researchers Andrew Coffey and Michael J. Jones compared the immigration laws of Texas and Florida. The authors found that the two laws are similar in many ways, including:

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Texas and Florida immigration laws that are similar

According to the researchers, Texas and Florida have laws that share fundamental similarities in that they reflect a hard position in matters of immigration. First, they give state police officers the power to arrest anyone they suspect is in the country illegally. According to organizations such as American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU for its acronym in English), this power can lead to racial profiling and generate tensions between the immigrant community and law enforcement.

Furthermore, both the SB8 Law HB165 in Texas and Florida prohibits local authorities from cooperating with the federal government to enforce immigration laws. This provision is intended to create obstacles to collaboration between state and federal authorities on immigration issues, thereby generating a more hostile environment for undocumented immigrants.

Despite these similarities, there are substantial differences among the two states’ immigration laws that deserve attention. Texas’ SB8, for example, goes further by allowing private citizens to sue anyone who provides assistance to an undocumented immigrant.

Additionally, Texas SB8 prohibits cities and counties in the state from establishing sanctuaries for undocumented immigrants. In exchange, Florida HB165 does not contain a similar provision.

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National Context of Immigration Restrictions in the United States

These immigration laws are not unique in the American landscape. The immigration laws in Texas and Florida reflect a broader movement in several conservative U.S. states to approach immigration more restrictively.

Other states, mainly conservative orientation, implemented similar measures to restrict immigration. These include Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.

In an article published in the newspaper The New York Times, journalist Motoko Rich pointed out that the Texas and Florida immigration laws are part of a broader effort by conservative states in the United States to restrict immigration. Rich wrote that these laws are “an example of how states are taking control of immigration policy as the federal government has become more divided“.

In an article published in the magazine Atlantic, journalist Caitlin Dickerson also pointed out the similarities between Texas and Florida immigration laws. Dickerson wrote that these laws are “a sign that immigration has become an increasingly politicized issue in the United States“.