Thornton FL SD 06

Dignified Immigration Management

PREVENTING FRAUD, WASTE, AND ABUSE IN IMMIGRATION MANAGEMENT ACT

Draft Legislation for Policy Development and Public Discussion

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act shall be known as the “Preventing Fraud, Waste, and Abuse in Immigration Management Act.”

SECTION 2. LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

The Legislature finds that:

  1. The State of Florida has a compelling interest in protecting all persons within its jurisdiction, regardless of immigration status, from fraud, coercion, intimidation, exploitation, or abuse.
  2. Magnifica Humanitas affirms the inherent dignity of every human person and calls for public institutions to safeguard the vulnerable, promote transparency, and ensure accountability.
  3. While immigration enforcement is primarily a federal responsibility, the State retains authority over:
    • Public safety
    • Licensing and regulation
    • Health care access
    • Labor protections
    • State‑funded programs
    • Oversight of state and local detention facilities
  4. Fraud, waste, and abuse in immigration‑related operations — including mismanagement of detainee information, misuse of funds, and mistreatment of individuals — undermine public trust and violate human dignity.
  5. The State must ensure that no person, including undocumented individuals, is subjected to:
    • Fear or intimidation
    • Derogatory or dehumanizing language
    • Disruption of family unity
    • Interference with access to health care
    • Physical abuse or neglect

Purpose:
To establish statewide standards for transparency, accountability, humane treatment, and responsible stewardship of public resources in all immigration‑related operations conducted by state or local agencies.

TITLE I — PROTECTION OF HUMAN DIGNITY

SECTION 101. PROHIBITION OF ABUSE, INTIMIDATION, AND DEGRADING TREATMENT.

(a) No state or local official, employee, contractor, or volunteer shall:

  1. Use derogatory, dehumanizing, or inflammatory language when referring to any person based on immigration status.
  2. Engage in intimidation, threats, coercion, or harassment.
  3. Interfere with access to medical care, mental health care, or emergency services.
  4. Separate family members except in cases of immediate danger.
  5. Use physical force except as permitted under existing state law governing use of force.

(b) Violations shall be subject to:

  • Administrative discipline
  • Mandatory retraining
  • Referral for criminal investigation when appropriate

TITLE II — TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN DETENTION

SECTION 201. DETAINEE RECORDS AND REPORTING.

Any state or local facility holding individuals for immigration‑related purposes must maintain and publicly report (quarterly):

  1. Detainee roster including:
    • Name
    • Age
    • Country of origin
    • Date of intake
    • Length of stay
    • Legal status category (if known)
    • Disposition (release, transfer, removal, or other outcome)
  2. Criminal conviction data limited to:
    • Convictions in Florida or USA  courts only
    • Nature of the offense
    • Date of conviction
  3. Prohibition:
    • No facility may imply or state that detainees have criminal convictions unless such convictions occurred in the USA and are documented.

SECTION 202. STAFF ACCOUNTABILITY.

All staff working in immigration‑related detention or processing must have:

  1. Documented training in:
    • Trauma‑informed care
    • Cultural competency
    • De‑escalation
    • Human rights protections
    • Reporting obligations
  2. Performance oversight, including:
    • Annual evaluations
    • Review of use‑of‑force incidents
    • Anonymous reporting channels for misconduct
  3. Public reporting of:
    • Staffing levels
    • Training completion rates
    • Disciplinary actions (without identifying personal data)

TITLE III — FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

SECTION 301. AUDITS OF IMMIGRATION‑RELATED EXPENDITURES.

(a) All state funds used for immigration‑related operations shall be subject to annual audits by the Office of the Chief Inspector General.
(b) Audits must evaluate:

  • Contract compliance
  • Expenditures
  • Waste or misallocation
  • Efficiency of operations
  • Compliance with human dignity standards

(c) Audit results shall be made public.

SECTION 302. PROHIBITION ON MISUSE OF FUNDS.

State funds may not be used for:

  • Coercive or abusive practices
  • Unlawful data sharing
  • Activities outside the scope of state authority
  • Political messaging or propaganda

TITLE IV — HONEST COMMUNICATION AND PUBLIC INTEGRITY

SECTION 401. ACCURATE AND RESPECTFUL PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.

(a) State and local officials, whether elected or employed, must:

  • Use accurate, evidence‑based information when discussing immigration operations
  • Avoid language that dehumanizes or stigmatizes individuals
  • Clearly distinguish between immigration status and criminal activity

(b) Official statements must not:

  • Attribute crimes to detainees without verified USA convictions
  • Use misleading statistics
  • Imply guilt based on immigration status

TITLE V — HEALTH, SAFETY, AND FAMILY PROTECTIONS

SECTION 501. ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE.

All individuals in state or local custody must have access to:

  • Emergency medical care
  • Mental health services
  • Medication continuity
  • Pregnancy‑related care

SECTION 502. FAMILY CONTACT AND LEGAL ACCESS.

Facilities must ensure:

  • Reasonable access to legal counsel
  • Regular communication with family members
  • Notification of transfers or releases

TITLE VI — IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT

SECTION 601. HUMAN DIGNITY OVERSIGHT COMMISSION.

Establish a statewide commission to:

  • Monitor compliance
  • Receive complaints
  • Conduct investigations
  • Issue public reports
  • Recommend corrective action

SECTION 602. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY.

The Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Corrections shall adopt rules necessary to implement this Act.

SECTION 603. EFFECTIVE DATE.

This Act shall take effect July 1 following enactment.