TAMPA, Fla. (RTW News) — Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a measure into law that grants Florida state officials the authority to label specific groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations. This legislation would also enable the expulsion of state university students who express support for those organizations.
Critics, including advocates for free speech, have voiced concerns over the law's vague language, which they argue could suppress educational activities viewed as 'promoting terrorism.' The new law allows a prominent official from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate groups as terrorist, pending approval from the governor and three cabinet members, comprising the state attorney general, chief financial officer, and agriculture commissioner—all of whom are separately elected.
When deemed a terrorist organization, a group can be disbanded and is prohibited from receiving any funds from state agencies or educational districts. Additionally, universities are mandated to report expelled students on visas to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This new legislation is intended to safeguard Floridians and protect taxpayer funds from being utilized for harmful agendas, stated DeSantis at a press briefing in Tampa. He emphasized its necessity in maintaining what he considers order within Florida.
In December, DeSantis had already classified several groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, as foreign terrorist organizations, a decision subsequently challenged and temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
William Johnson, Florida director for PEN America, remarked that this law’s consequences might extend beyond mere policy enforcement, potentially chilling educational discourse across various academic levels. Discussions around this law continue, reflecting profound implications for educational institutions and student rights in Florida.
Critics, including advocates for free speech, have voiced concerns over the law's vague language, which they argue could suppress educational activities viewed as 'promoting terrorism.' The new law allows a prominent official from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate groups as terrorist, pending approval from the governor and three cabinet members, comprising the state attorney general, chief financial officer, and agriculture commissioner—all of whom are separately elected.
When deemed a terrorist organization, a group can be disbanded and is prohibited from receiving any funds from state agencies or educational districts. Additionally, universities are mandated to report expelled students on visas to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
This new legislation is intended to safeguard Floridians and protect taxpayer funds from being utilized for harmful agendas, stated DeSantis at a press briefing in Tampa. He emphasized its necessity in maintaining what he considers order within Florida.
In December, DeSantis had already classified several groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, as foreign terrorist organizations, a decision subsequently challenged and temporarily blocked by a federal judge.
William Johnson, Florida director for PEN America, remarked that this law’s consequences might extend beyond mere policy enforcement, potentially chilling educational discourse across various academic levels. Discussions around this law continue, reflecting profound implications for educational institutions and student rights in Florida.
