DeSantis signs Florida law to label groups as terrorists and expel student supporters
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Monday giving him the authority, along with other Florida leaders, to label groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations and deport state college students who support them.
The law, criticized by free speech advocates, allows a top official with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization; The governor and three other members of the Florida Cabinet also approve or reject the appointment. In addition to the governor, the cabinet includes the state attorney general, treasurer and agriculture commissioner, all of whom are individually elected.
Once a group is designated as a terrorist organization, it can be shut down and will no longer receive any government funding through school districts or government agencies. Universities will also have to notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement about the status of deported students who attended on visas.
“So this will help the state of Florida protect you. It will help us protect your tax revenues,” DeSantis said at a news conference in Tampa. “This will help us protect things that shouldn’t be in the United States, but definitely shouldn’t be in the free state of Florida.”
DeSantis last december It designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. A federal judge last month temporarily blocked enforcement of DeSantis’ executive order.
PEN America, a group that advocates for free speech, said the new law has vague language that could restrict educational programs deemed to “encourage” terrorism and could target student protesters who criticize Florida officials.
William Johnson, PEN America’s Florida director, said the new law “could chill education at every level.” “The results are worrying.”
