McCollum will introduce immigration bill
Updated: Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 11:15 PM EDT
Published : Tuesday, 10 Aug 2010, 11:15 PM EDT


Chris Chmura
FOX 13 News reporter
TAMPA - Florida's Attorney General will propose a new state immigration law Wednesday, playing to his core supporters but also thrusting the state into what could become a legal and social quagmire along the lines of what Arizona finds itself in.

Bill McCollum, who is engaged in a bitter primary for governor, will make the announcement in Orlando, his Tallahassee office said. Details about the proposal were not made available in advance of the news conference.

It is no surprise McCollum is floating an illegal immigration law for Florida. Polls show conservative Republican voters, those most likely to vote in the August 24 election, rank immigration as one of their top priorities.

And support for the Arizona law, which permits state law enforcement officers to report immigration violators to federal immigration agents, is nearly unanimous among likely GOP voters.

Under current Florida law, when law enforcement officers make an arrest, they are allowed to check for legal immigration status, and most do. But Bill believes that Florida law must be even stronger, Mccollum's website says.

McCollum has previously filed a legal brief in support of the controversial Arizona law, criticizing an Obama administration challenge. The case is pending an appeal, following a federal district judge’s decision to temporarily halt key provisions of the law.

Protestors have descended on Arizona in opposition to the law. Some have called for a boycott of the state. Proponents, including the state's Governor, Jan Brewer, argue the state is merely enforcing laws that the federal government has failed to adequately enforce.

McCollum's website vows that, if elected Florida governor, he will hold the federal government accountable to fulfill their responsibility to protect our national borders.

Following the morning announcement in Orlando McCollum will take part in an event that was supposed to be a debate. His opponent, Rick Scott, who has repeatedly challenged McCollum's immigration stance, has refused to participate in the debate.

The Attorney General will later make an appearance in Brandon at 7 p.m., his campaign said in a statement.

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