Lawmaker sponsoring DeSantis’ immigration bill says intent is not to target children

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — In recent months, Gov. Ron DeSantis has directed state regulators to crack down on shelters that house unaccompanied minors in Florida and asked the Legislature to bar state contracts with companies that transport migrants, including children, into the state on behalf of the federal government.

But the Republican lawmaker who is sponsoring legislation that is part of DeSantis’ immigration agenda said Thursday that the measure is not intended to impact unaccompanied children or the shelters that care for them as they wait to be reunited with their families or vetted sponsors.

“The intent certainly is not to target children,” said state Rep. John Snyder, R-Stuart. “But the thing that I’d like to point out is that even if it does, then we are not saying — because we do not have the ability — to tell a common carrier they cannot transport unaccompanied minors.”