Florida Grand Jury Calls for Immigration Restrictions and Overseas Money Transfer Tax

In a 146-page report released on Monday, a statewide grand jury in Florida, appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis to investigate migrant-related issues, has recommended new restrictions on immigration. The grand jury’s suggestions include imposing a tax on all wire transfers of money overseas and placing additional restrictions on businesses, such as requiring employers to check prospective employees against a federal immigration database.

Key Recommendations of the Grand Jury:

1. Tax on Wire Transfers: The grand jury proposed a “modest” fee on wire transfers, similar to one imposed by the state of Oklahoma, potentially around 1.5 percent per transfer. The revenue generated from such a fee could be used for enhanced enforcement, education, or to assist state agencies dealing with unaccompanied migrant children.
2. E-Verify Mandate: Reinforcing the E-Verify mandate, the grand jury suggested expanding the requirement for all employers to check the names of prospective employees against a federal immigration database.
3. Impact on South Florida: The proposed tax on wire transfers could have a significant impact in areas like South Florida, which has a large population sending money back to relatives in Latin America and the Caribbean.
4. Criticizing NGOs and Miami-Dade County: The grand jury criticized non-governmental organizations involved in immigration that refused to cooperate with the probe, recommending the creation of a separate grand jury to investigate them. It also alleged that Miami-Dade County was sidestepping the mandate to work with federal immigration authorities.

Governor DeSantis’ Stance:

Governor DeSantis has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration’s immigration policies. During his presidential campaign, he emphasized placing charges on remittances to fund border enforcement.

Response and Concerns:

Some Democrats and immigrant advocates expressed alarm at the tone of the report, expecting more restrictive language and policies targeting immigrants in the next legislative session. State Representative Anna Eskamani raised concerns about potential negative impacts on immigrants.