Thread: Florida activists fear potential 'chaos' if Supreme Court al

Florida activists fear potential 'chaos' if Supreme Court allows states to bolster immigration laws

palmbeachpost.com
By Ana M. Valdes
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Updated: 10:56 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, 2011
Posted: 10:42 p.m. Monday, Dec. 12, 2011



In this July 22, 2010 file photo, a protester is arrested by Phoenix Police Department officers after refusing to move while blocking an intersection during a protest against Arizona immigration law SB1070. The Supreme Court agreed Monday, Dec. 12, 2011 to rule on Arizona's controversial law targeting illegal immigrants. The justices said they will review a federal appeals court ruling that blocked several tough provisions in the Arizona law. One of those requires that police, while enforcing other laws, question a person's immigration status if officers suspect he is in the country illegally.

A change in U.S. policy recently spared Port St. Lucie immigration activist Manuel Guerra from deportation to Mexico.

But with the U.S. Supreme Court's announcement Monday that it would rule on Arizona's law targeting undocumented immigrants, Guerra and other immigrant advocates across Florida say they fear what might result if the court rules that states may enforce immigration laws more strict than federal ones.

The court is expected to hear arguments in late April. It will consider whether a U.S. appellate court was right to uphold a federal judge's decision to block provisions making it a state crime for an illegal immigrant to hold a job. The Arizona provisions also would allow police to arrest suspected illegal immigrants without warrants and would require all immigrants to carry registration papers.

Guerra, who fought to help defeat an Arizona-style law considered by the Florida Legislature last spring, said a court ruling in favor of Arizona could "create great division across the United States and will create chaos within the immigration community."

Several bills were offered, including one sponsored by Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, that initially called for law enforcement officers in Florida to check the immigration status of people being investigated for crimes. A spokeswoman for Snyder said Monday that he did not want to comment until the Supreme Court issues a decision.

No such bill has advanced in Tallahassee for the 2012 session, but Guerra fears that a Supreme Court decision in favor of Arizona could create an impetus for Snyder or others to propose similar bills in future sessions.

"I think that law will once again come back to Florida with great force," Guerra said. "After fighting for so long, we will have to go back to fighting again - but now the politicians would have the authority and the backing of the Supreme Court."

Others, like Ira Mehlman of the Federation for American Immigration Reform, support states having jurisdiction over immigration enforcement. FAIR is a nonprofit based in Washington that promotes border security and is against illegal immigration.

Mehlman said Monday that a Supreme Court ruling could give states guidelines for enforcing federal immigration laws.

"We are optimistic the court will rule that states have a legitimate role to play in enforcing federal immigration laws," Mehlman said. "It is primarily the states and local governments that have to provide education, health care and a whole range of other services that people require once they are here."

At the Florida chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, spokesman Derek Newton said he hopes the high court reaffirms that the implementation of immigration laws is a federal responsibility. "We are looking forward to a ruling from the court regarding how individual states are crafting their own immigration policy, which we believe is unconstitutional and leads to civil rights abuses," Newton said.

West Palm Beach immigration attorney Aileen Josephs said she and other immigration activists have been working with members of both political parties to tackle the immigration debate. "I hope (the justices) conclude that immigration is a federal issue because I would hate to see different state laws," Josephs said.

While the Supreme Court reviews Arizona's immigration law, a federal bill that could affect immigrants, the Legal Workforce Act, is before Congress. Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith, R-Texas, the bill would require all employers to use a federal database called E-Verify to check the legitimacy of Social Security numbers given by employees and not hire illegal workers.

Florida farmers worry about losing a large percentage of their workforce if the bill becomes law.

Over the objections of farmers and the tourism industry, Alabama's legislature adopted a law requiring employers to use E-Verify. That law takes effect April 1.

Georgia also has passed statewide E-Verify.

Many undocumented workers have abandoned both those states, causing losses of crops, according to growers there.

Alabama, South Carolina and Utah also face legal action by the Obama administration for laws similar to Arizona's.

The U.S. Department of Justice said last month that it is reviewing immigration-related laws that were passed in Indiana and Georgia.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Florida farmers worry about losing a large percentage of their workforce if the bill becomes law.

Stop hiring illegals you are aiding and abetting criminal activity, what part of illegal don't you understand!!!!!

Millions of Americans out of work and your worried about your ILLEGAL workforce.....How many high school kids can't find work...get real....I repeat what part of ILLEGAL don't you under stand????? Oh I forgot it must be the cheap labor you pay in pesos you don't want to give up!!!!