In brief
In a significant move, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has enacted a law that allows state leaders to label groups as terrorist organizations, leading to the expulsion of university students who endorse them. This legislation has sparked controversy among free speech advocates who warn of its vague language and potential consequences on education and protest. The law aims to restrict state funding to designated organizations, and universities are required to report expelled students on visas to immigration authorities.
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Governor Ron DeSantis signed a measure into law Monday that gives him and other Florida leaders the ability to label groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organizations and expel state university students who support them.
The law, criticized by free speech advocates, allows a senior official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to designate a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organization, subject to the governor's and three other Cabinet members' approval. These officials include the state attorney general, chief financial officer, and agriculture commissioner.
Once designated a terrorist organization, a group can be dissolved and is prohibited from receiving any state funding through educational institutions or state agencies. Furthermore, universities are required to report the status of expelled students attending on visas to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“So this will help the state of Florida protect you. It’ll help us protect your tax dollars,” said DeSantis at a press conference in Tampa. “It’ll help us protect things that should not be happening in the United States of America, but certainly shouldn’t be happening in the free state of Florida.”
PEN America, an organization advocating for free speech, expressed that the law's vague language could restrict educational programs seen as “promoting” terrorism and potentially target student protests criticizing Florida officials. William Johnson, PEN America’s Florida director stated, “The implications are fraught.”
DeSantis previously designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organizations. A federal judge recently put a temporary block on the enforcement of this executive order.
