TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – Pastors, priests and faith leaders gathered at the Florida Capitol to call on lawmakers to protect immigrants, including pushing for legislation that would require federal immigration officers to show their credentials.
With three weeks remaining in the legislative session, Democrats and faith leaders are invoking shared religious values to encourage Republicans to reconsider immigration policies.
Leaders from several faiths criticized bills moving through the Republican supermajority-controlled legislature that would increase restrictions on people living in Florida illegally. Among them is a sweeping elections reform bill that would require local election supervisors to verify immigration status on voter registrations.
Sen. Erin Grall, R-Fort Pierce, said the bill uses an existing system to work with supervisors of elections.
“It allows us to use a system that works, that has already confirmed this information, to interact with the supervisors of elections,” Grall said.
More Florida politics:
Rev. Russell Meyer of the Florida Council of Churches pushed back on the direction of current enforcement.
“People say there’s an immigration crisis. Let’s be clear, we have a crisis in cruel and harsh enforcement,” Meyer said.
Faith leaders are asking lawmakers to instead pass bills that would make it easier for people to identify federal immigration officers.
Sen. Shevin Jones, D-Miami Gardens, drew a contrast between religious rhetoric and legislative action.
“Leaders who quote scripture on Sunday, criminalize migrant families on Monday, I have to ask a question — are we practicing the faith we preach or are we weaponizing it?” Jones said. Jones also noted, “Jesus himself was an immigrant.”
Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said the current climate has consequences for immigrant communities. “
Because living in the shadows, especially today, it is not only scary, but it is being weaponized,” Eskamani said.
Final committee meetings are scheduled for next week. Bills must be ready for a vote by next Tuesday to remain eligible to become law. Eskamani said efforts to push back on restrictive legislation will continue.
“We will be fighting defensively on some of the concerning bills that some are going to come to State Affairs soon, and of course, amending to mitigate harm,” she said.
Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.