Florida's annual Legislative Session continues through the first week in May, and one of the bills that lawmakers are considering is a bill, H.B. 83, that would increase the penalties for certain crims committed by someone who was in the United States illegally.

During a recent subcommittee meeting in Tallahassee, the Florida Immigration Coalition this piece of information to lawmakers for their consideration:

"As an undocumented immigrant, you do have constitutional rights here in the United States."

Our partners at PolitiFact Florida took a look at the claim to see if it was accurate.  PolitiFact reporter Joshua Gillin says that the Coalition's claim rates MOSTLY TRUE on the Truth-O-Meter.  Gillin says that there are certain guarantees for everybody, regardless of status.

"The Constitution notes that everybody is afforded several freedoms, including freedom of speech and freedom of religion," said Gillin.  "This goes for everybody, not just for people who are legally in the United States."

Gillin notes that, while those guarantees are in place, not everything is guaranteed.  "You do have a right to due process, of course," said Gillin.  "However, there are laws that pertain particularly to that based on your status.  One of the big ones, of course, is that you can't vote if you're here illegally."

Undocumented immigrants do enjoy some protections under the law and the Constitution, but not all protections afforded to people who are in the country legally, leading to a MOSTLY TRUE rating from PolitiFact's Truth-O-Meter.

 

SOURCES: Constitutional rights for undocumented immigrants?