FLA. Chiles set right tone on state immigration policy
Lawton Chiles set right tone on state immigration policy
June 22, 2010
By Mark Schlakman
As calls for boycotts ring out in protest of Arizona's controversial immigration law, polls indicate a majority approves even though it might lead to civil rights violations.
Meanwhile, candidates for the U.S Senate and governor in Florida quickly lined up on both sides of the issue. Gov. Charlie Crist, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, Jeff Greene, CFO Alex Sink, Bud Chiles and even former Gov. Jeb Bush oppose the law.
Former state House Speaker Marco Rubio and Attorney General Bill McCollum opposed the law before they decided to support it, as amended, notwithstanding that the changes failed to mollify its most ardent critics. Rick Scott, who vaulted ahead of McCollum in some polls in their respective bids for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, is a zealous advocate for a similar law in Florida.
Back in Arizona, the state's tourism industry is scrambling to mitigate the damage. Virtually anything associated with Arizona seems to be at risk. Florida tourism officials and businesses engaged in international markets should take note.
By contrast, Gov. Lawton Chiles implemented a broad range of initiatives during the 1990s to minimize the burden that Florida taxpayers shouldered attributable to the federal government's failure to adequately enforce U.S. immigration laws.
These initiatives included a landmark agreement with the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service to expedite the removal (deportation) of approximately 500 undocumented, nonviolent criminals in Florida Department of Corrections custody, avoiding tens of millions of dollars in incarceration costs.
It is well established that only Congress can pass laws regulating immigration, the federal government is responsible for the enforcement of immigration law, and federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction over immigration matters. Generally, federal law preempts conflicting state law.
While border security and enforcement have received increased emphasis during the Clinton, Bush and Obama administrations, federal enforcement of U.S. immigration law has been uneven at best and sometimes misplaced over the years.
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-0 ... ton-chiles
