Florida officials aren't wasting time implementing their new legislation, which increases penalties for crimes committed by immigrants in the country without legal authorization and allocates nearly $300 million toward beefing up state and local participation in federal immigration enforcement.

Florida’s new legislation approved on Thursday sets aside nearly $300 million for immigration enforcement and repeals a law that previously allowed Dreamers ― students brought to the country illegally by their parents ― to pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities.

Gov. Ron DeSantis said that more state agencies have reached agreements for officers to be trained and participate in immigration-enforcement efforts with the federal government. Among them are the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the Florida State Guard.

The new agreements involve the Florida State Guard, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the FDLE.

Fidel Sanchez remembers how hard things got after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a law tightening restrictions on immigration in 2023. Out of nearly 80 workers and their families who used to work on his Plant City strawberry and vegetable farm,