TALLAHASSEE - State lawmakers on Tuesday unveiled a series of immigration-related bills aimed at making it tougher to hire illegal immigrants, limiting public services they can receive and penalizing anyone who brings them into Florida.
The last proposal comes in response to a unique problem facing Florida: the growing number of Cubans and others smuggled across the Florida Straits each month.
The majority of the half-dozen bills reflect similar measures proposed in states across the country, all backed by the national nonprofit Federation for Immigration Reform, which supports a freeze on nearly all immigration.
Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, led the call for tighter immigration laws during a news conference at the state Capitol.
"We want to make sure the state of Florida can do everything in its power to deal with illegals," she said. "It's a federal issue, but there are things states can do."
Harrell has proposed a law that would make it illegal for any state funds to go to day labor centers where illegal immigrants are among those seeking work, usually in construction and landscaping.
Those supporting the proposals, including Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs, represent the Republican Party's most ardent hard-liners when it comes to immigration.
Brown sponsored the most comprehensive bill (HB 73), much of which simply codifies existing practices or parallels federal law.
The bill would prohibit cities from restricting any efforts to enforce immigration laws, pre-empting municipalities from creating so-called "sanctuary cities" for illegal immigrants. The bill also requires driver's licenses to be issued only to U.S. citizens or those with legal status in Florida. Brown also wants verification of immigration status for those seeking certain public benefits but said he wasn't yet sure which benefits.
"I don't know that there will be anything," he said. "I've got some research to do myself on what services they are getting."
Brown argued the state doesn't know how much of its resources go to illegal immigrants because nobody ever asks. The law would provide this crucial information, he said.
The aspect of the bill that could have the greatest effect on Florida business is a requirement that anyone contracting with the state participate in the federal government's volunteer worker verification program. Under the program, employers run the names of prospective employees through Social Security and Department of Homeland Security databases.
The program has been criticized by Congress's investigative arm for its high rate of error. Immigrant advocates argue the state lacks the authority to require such participation.
The bills are being reviewed by committee and require approval before they can be considered by the full chambers.
Source: Tampa Bay Online
The states are overrun and, as the Federal government continues to abrogate its responsibilities for border protection, the states will have to enact their own laws for their own protection.
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