New Bill in Florida Allows Lawsuits Against Local Governments for Deaths by Illegal Immigrants
A Republican lawmaker in Florida has introduced a bill that would enable families to take legal action against certain local governments in cases where illegal immigrants are implicated in killings.
This legislation, named the Shane Jones Act, builds on the state’s rigorous immigration policies and is named to commemorate Shane Jones, who tragically lost his life in a traffic incident involving a suspected illegal immigrant in 2019.
Representative Bernie Jack, the bill’s sponsor, noted that the widow of Shane Jones, Nikki, played a role in supporting this initiative. The act aims to implement stricter measures concerning illegal immigrants and outline consequences for law enforcement that disregard Florida’s immigration laws.
Nikki Jones expressed, “For too long, American families have been left to pick up the pieces after a loved one is taken from them by a crime that could have been prevented.” She labeled the Shane Jones Act as a significant shift, stating that local governments failing to enforce immigration laws would finally face accountability.
The proposed bill creates a framework allowing families to sue local governments in instances where illegal immigrants are determined to be at fault for fatalities. It also includes a provision for imposing a $10,000 penalty on law enforcement agencies that fail to adhere to these new rules, with the funds aimed at compensating affected families.
Jack defended the bill, claiming that Florida’s existing immigration laws necessitate law enforcement’s collaboration with federal immigration officers. Currently, Florida mandates police agencies to make “best efforts” to work with ICE; however, there’s no obligation for them to establish 287(g) agreements.
The state maintains that once a partnership with ICE is initiated, it cannot simply be revoked by cities or police departments without violating Florida’s commitments.
As of May 2025, only ten states lack an active agreement between local police departments and ICE.
