Thread: Florida Follows Arizona's Lead With New Bill Cracking Down o

Florida Follows Arizona's Lead With New Bill Cracking Down on Illegal Immigrants

By Stephen Clark

Published December 04, 2010
Comments (159)


Florida has joined Arizona on the front lines of battling illegal immigration with a new bill released this week that seeks to crack down on the estimated 800,000 undocumented workers in the state.

The bill, filed by state Sen. Michael Bennett, allows law enforcement officers to check the residency status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal immigrant and would punish some legal immigrants who aren't carrying proper documentation.

Florida has been flirting with releasing an immigration bill since the summer when outgoing state Attorney General Bill McCollum wrote a similar proposal with state Rep. William Snyder. But Snyder has yet to file that bill.

Snyder told FoxNews.com that he's in no rush to file his bill and expects to unveil it next month. He said he is consulting with state Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi and minority communities who are concerned about the bill promoting racial profiling.

"Filing a bill is just pushing a button," he said. "I could do that in instant. Getting people behind the bill is what legislation is all about."

Bennett could not be reached for comment. A spokesman for Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott, who campaigned on cracking down on illegal immigrants in the state, did not return a message seeking comment.

Bondi said she is still reviewing the details of Bennett's bill but expressed support for such a law.

"I am committed to working with the legislature in support of an immigration law for Florida that protects the public, guards against racial profiling and upholds the rule of law," she said in a written statement to FoxNews.com. "I will stand up to any effort by the federal government to stop Florida from implementing such a law."

Like Snyder's bill, Bennett's measure would allow law enforcement officers to check immigration documents during a lawful detention if they suspect the detainee is not in the country legally. But the bill bans the use of race or ethnicity as a reason to check immigration papers. Immigrants who are caught not carrying their documents face a fine of up to $100 and up to 20 days in jail.

Arizona's immigration law ignited a firestorm of criticism when it was passed earlier this year, including legal challenges from the Obama administration and civil rights groups. A U.S. District Court judge blocked key provisions in the summer as the battle between Arizona and the federal government continues, possibly heading to the Supreme Court.

In the meantime, though, several states are working to pass similar bills. As of last month, six other states have filled Arizona-style immigration bills, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Snyder said he's confident that his bill will withstand legal challenges because it is simply enforcing existing federal laws.

"People pushing back think it would create a whole new genre of law," he said. "We're not."

Snyder added that he supports legal immigration.

"I think there are people who are against illegal immigration and there's a whole separate group for open borders," he said. "Those people are using my bill as a platform to rail against any immigration law."

www.foxnews.com

good for you Birth Certificatie they should show that first in my book
then go down the line
good luck
all the state should do the same thing I wish NYC would do this we have Mexico right in my back yard . it no funny they sound like chicks

Originally Posted by southBronx

good for you Birth Certificatie they should show that first in my book
then go down the line
good luck
all the state should do the same thing I wish NYC would do this we have Mexico right in my back yard . it no funny they sound like chicks

"they sound like chicks"

Good one, southBronx.

GO FLORIDA!! GO! GO! GO! Lets get r done. Arizona, Florida, now Texas and soon New Mexico.

California, New York, and Washington ... waiting for you. That will seal up most of our border gates and ports. Then the other states will follow as so many who have already drafted bills and will be passing them early next year. And of course Missouri who a couple of years ago passed a bill that in short order will solve most of their illegal immigration problems as well. They still need the AZ type bill that unleashes their law enforcement officers and that will follow in short order, perhaps as early as next year.

LETS SO STATES! LETS GO 800,000 state and local police officers. You've never been needed as much as you're needed now to use your personnel, equipment, jails and other resources already paid for to solve this problem for our country. When you need more boots on the deal, deputize citizens and get r done.