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PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A prayer vigil was held in Downtown Pensacola Friday night, protesting a bill aimed at curbing immigration in Florida.

Supporters of the bill say it's designed to fight illegal immigration. But activists say it could keep undocumented pregnant women from getting healthcare, and workers from getting jobs.

WEAR

The Florida legislature has passed a sweeping new immigration reform bill.

A prayer vigil was held with faith leaders, community members, and local activist Grace Resendez McCaffery Friday night.

We know that its in the governors hands right now," McCaffrey, Latino Media Gulf Coast owner said. "Since we know he hasnt signed it at this moment, perhaps there is time to have some type of divine intervention to come up with a better solution.

WEAR News was asked not to show people's faces because of the fears many of them have.

"People who are on the asylum-seeking track, they dont necessarily have protective status until they get to a certain point in the court proceedings," McCaffrey said. "Theyre particularly vulnerable with this bill.

SB 1718 would require hospitals to ask patients about their immigration status. The data collected would track how much the state spends treating undocumented immigrants.

Pastor Luis Ramirez believes the bill could discourage families from visiting the doctor.

"It's concerning because you have children and families where they cannot afford to have healthcare," Ramirez said. "And they're going to be scared now if they feel like they have an emergency they don't know what to do."

Another provision is that companies with 25 or more employees sign up for E-verify, which would track a worker's immigration status to be approved for work.

The bill would make certain driver's licenses issued by other states to undocumented immigrants invalid in Florida.

Senator Doug Broxson supports the bill.

"Well, I voted for it. It was not my bill," Sen. Broxson said. "The governor is very passionate about it.

Sen. Broxson said the tougher restrictions are aimed at protecting migrants.

"Our people are saying, lets make sure people who come here are able to move into the system and be treated like Floridians," Sen. Broxson said. "People who are coming over, primarily from the Mexican border, are being abused and thats not right and we want to put a stop to it.

SB 1718 now heads to the governor's desk for a final signature.

If signed, it would go into effect July 1.

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Prayer vigil held in Downtown Pensacola in protest of Florida immigration bill - WEAR