Immigration law in the United States generally includes the rights and obligations of persons who are not U.S. citizens to temporarily visit or more permanently reside in the U.S.—and for federal and state governments to enforce immigration laws regarding visitors and residents.
Most immigration law consists of federal statutes and regulations—but many state laws impact both legal and illegal immigrants—including employment checks, E-Verify, law enforcement, driver's license requirements, public benefits restrictions, and more.
In Florida, as in all states, immigration law is primarily governed by federal statutes and regulations, as the authority to regulate immigration is a federal power. This includes laws pertaining to visas, green cards, asylum, deportation, and citizenship. However, Florida has state laws that also affect immigrants. For example, Florida requires employers to use the federal E-Verify system to check the work eligibility of new hires, which can impact both legal and illegal immigrants. Law enforcement in Florida may also cooperate with federal immigration authorities, although the extent of this cooperation can vary. Florida does not issue driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants, and there are restrictions on public benefits for non-citizens. It's important for immigrants in Florida to understand both the federal immigration laws and the specific state statutes that may affect their rights and obligations.