Florida CFO unveils anti‑illegal immigration policy package
Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia announced a slate of legislative priorities on Dec. 3 to curb illegal immigrants’ access to state‑licensed financial services and benefits, including barring down‑payment assistance, prohibiting issuance of licenses overseen by the Department of Financial Services, requiring CDL final exams be administered only in English, and removing illegal immigrants as covered employees under workers’ compensation. Ingoglia, citing 26 arrests tied to his agency (including four insurance fraud cases totaling $800,000), also proposed requiring insurers to accept fault if an illegal immigrant policyholder is involved in an auto crash, and said he is working with state lawmakers Rep. Kiyan Michael (R‑Duval) and Jonathan Martin (R‑Fort Myers) to advance the package.
📌 Key Facts
- Who/When: Florida CFO Blaise Ingoglia announced the package late Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025
- Proposals: Ban down‑payment assistance to illegal immigrants; block DFS‑sanctioned licenses; CDL exams English‑only; remove illegal immigrants from workers’ comp coverage
- Enforcement/data: Ingoglia cites 26 arrests under his agency, including 4 insurance‑fraud cases totaling $800,000
- Support: Backed by Rep. Kiyan Michael (R‑Duval) and Jonathan Martin (R‑Fort Myers)
📊 Relevant Data
The unauthorized immigrant population in Florida increased from 540,000 in 2015 to 590,000 in 2022, representing approximately 2.7% of the state's total population of about 21.8 million in 2022.
Unpacking Florida's immigration trends − demographers take a closer look at the legal and undocumented population — The Conversation
In Texas from 2012 to 2016, undocumented immigrants had a felony arrest rate of 1,797 per 100,000, compared to 2,148 per 100,000 for legal immigrants and 2,428 per 100,000 for native-born citizens, indicating lower crime rates among undocumented immigrants.
Comparing crime rates between undocumented immigrants, legal immigrants, and native-born US citizens in Texas — Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS)
In Fiscal Year 2024, U.S. Border Patrol arrested 17,048 criminal noncitizens nationwide, including those with prior convictions for crimes such as 2,844 for driving under the influence and 1,566 for illegal drug possession or trafficking.
Criminal Alien Statistics — U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Undocumented immigrants imposed a net cost of $659.9 million on Florida taxpayers in 2024, accounting for expenses in areas like education, healthcare, and law enforcement minus taxes paid.
Report: Undocumented immigrants cost Florida taxpayers $660 million — Tallahassee Democrat