Thread: Florida legislators want bill modeled after Arizona illegal

Florida legislators want bill modeled after Arizona illegal immigration law

By TRACY X. MIGUEL, ERIC STAATS

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2010/jul ... legal-imm/

Florida and Arizona could have something more in common than sunshine and retirees.

Two Florida legislators say they are drafting a bill, modeled after Arizona’s controversial law, to crack down on illegal immigration.

State Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, and state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, say they plan to introduce the legislation in the 2011 session of the state Legislature that starts in March.

The federal government has filed a lawsuit to stop Arizona’s law, which has become a campaign issue in Florida’s race for governor.

Despite amendments meant to strengthen provisions against racial profiling, critics of the Arizona law say it still could lead to civil rights abuses.

The original law required immigrants to carry their immigration papers at all times and required police to question people they suspected of being in the United States illegally.

After an uproar, Arizona legislators later made changes that the two Florida bills would mirror, according to Snyder and a statement from Bennett’s office.

For example, Snyder’s bill would allow police to question people about their immigration status only during other police investigations.

“We’re trying to be sensitive to the fears of legal immigrants that they won’t be swept up and inadvertently targeted,â€

Dragonfire it was on Wink News today they are trying to pass this bill in the "Special Session" of our Legislators this mth.

Maybe they are just blowing smoke,,,,,,,,woudn't be the first time. .