After a successful legislative session for the Florida GOP, Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) has signed a bill into law that will prohibit Chinese officials from buying land in Florida.
While other bills like the six week abortion ban flooded headlines in mainstream media, the governor's ban on people with ties to the CCP from buying property in Florida may be the most crucial and underrated action taken by the governor this year.
The legislation has been described as counteracting communist influences in the United States, after conservatives for so long have taken issue with the CCP allegedly buying land in the United States.
One bill restricts Chinese nationals from buying land in Florida unless they are also American citizens or permanent residents. Chinese citizens with non-tourist visas, meanwhile, would be limited to buying fewer than two acres of land that is at least five miles away from any military institutions, the Tampa Bay television news outlet WTVT reported.
The bill also applies to other nations that the United States has not traditionally aligned its values with from Iran, Russia, and even Cuba. People who are not citizens from these nations would be limited to buying land outside of 10 miles from a military base, and can buy property anywhere else in Florida.
While Florida Republicans have seemingly portrayed the bill as simply a protectionist measure against Communism, some have argued that the premise of the now-law is antithetical to the "American Dream." One protestor in particular, Victoria Li, shared her thoughts on the bill.
"My concern is this bill will affect people like me who want to own a home.” Li added, “We’re scared, we’re terrified. That’s what we came here for. We have the American dream. That’s why, at my age, I’m still going to school."
This bill represents a greater trend of Republicans across the nation counteracting Chinese influence on the American populace. Talks of banning the social media app, Tik Tok, have arguably astroturfed this national discussion that is all but over.
