Ron DeSantis signs new Florida law to label groups as terrorists and expel student supporters

Governor Ron DeSantis has signed a law allowing Florida authorities to designate groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organisations and expel state university students who support them.

The measure, signed on Monday, gives the governor along with other state leaders the authority to approve or reject such designations. A top official at the Florida Department of Law Enforcement can identify a group as a domestic or foreign terrorist organisation, subject to approval.

The Florida Cabinet, which includes the attorney general, the chief financial officer and the agriculture commissioner, will take part in the decision-making process, according to the Associated Press.

Impact on organisations and funding

Once a group is designated as a terrorist organisation, it can be dissolved. It will also become ineligible for state funding through school districts or state agencies.

The law allows universities to expel students who support such designated groups. It also requires institutions to report the visa status of expelled students to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Governor’s statement

Speaking at a news conference in Tampa, DeSantis said the law is aimed at protecting the state.

“So this will help the state of Florida protect you. It’ll help us protect your tax dollars,” he said, as quoted by AP. “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.”

Criticism from free speech groups

The law has been criticised by free speech advocates. PEN America, a free speech advocacy group, said the new law has vague language that could restrict education programs deemed to be “promoting” terrorism and that it could target student protesters who criticize Florida officials.

The new law “could chill education at every level,” said William Johnson, PEN America’s Florida director. “The implications are fraught,” AP reports.

In December, DeSantis designated the Council on American-Islamic Relations and the Muslim Brotherhood as foreign terrorist organisations. A federal judge last month temporarily blocked the enforcement of that executive order.

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