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Florida Senate Panel Passes Immigration Bill
April 5, 2011
Cutting off debate, the Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday approved a controversial, though watered down, immigration bill that backs away from requiring law enforcement agencies from becoming de facto immigration agents and gives employers more options to verify the status of new hires.
Despite a two-hour window and a room packed with potential speakers, debate on the Senate’s immigration package (SB 2040) was limited to less than 13 minutes as all but a few of more than 100 who had traveled from as far away as Homestead could only have their names read into the record as opponents of the bill.
The panel then voted 5-2 to approve an amended version of the measure that allows employers to use alternatives to the federal E-Verify system by allowing employers to accept other types of documentation to determine if an applicant or newly hired employee is residing in the country legally and eligible to work.
Another amendment added to the bill Monday also relaxed requirements for state corrections and law enforcement officials by making it optional for them to enter agreements with the Department of Homeland Security to undergo training and be authorized to enforce federal immigration laws.
“This is not an easy process,” said committee chairwoman and bill sponsor Sen. Anitere Flores, R-Miami. “We are still very early on in debating this bill. We’re moving forward on this because the federal government … and the president … are not.”
The Senate version differs markedly from a House proposal (HB 7089) that also requires law enforcement officers to attempt to determine the immigration status of suspects in a criminal investigation or following an arrest if there is reason to believe the defendant is in the country illegally.
The House proposal, sponsored by Rep. Will Snyder, R-Stuart, was approved by the House Judiciary Committee but has yet to move beyond that point.
“This is a Florida-specific solution to address the issue of illegal immigration in our state. Florida will step up and protect its citizens where the federal government has failed us,” Senate President Mike Haridopolos said in a statement following the vote. “With one out of eight Floridians out of work, we need to ensure businesses hire only those who are eligible to work in our state.”
The hearing came hours after scores of workers, legal immigrants, advocates and supporters spoke to reporters of their concerns over the proposed legislation.
“The power of the American dream is so great in them that they willingly do much more for much less than many of the rest of us,” said the Rev. Russell Meyer of the Florida Council of Churches.
Donatila Diego, a Homestead resident in the county legally whose partner was deported in February leaving her with the sole responsibility for their four children, who are all U.S. citizens. She and her husband were already taking care of four children left behind by her niece, who was deported in August.
“I’m here because we don’t want the Arizona style immigration law here in Florida,” Diego said through an interpreter. “The people are suffering…. It doesn’t feel like we are in the United States, it feels like are in a war.”
By Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Comments
14 Responses to “Florida Senate Panel Passes Immigration Bill”
I am sick & tired of illegals taking OUR jobs, using OUR tax money to pay for their hospital bills. They receive far more benefits for NOTHING while the legitimate people of the county must pay!
I approached a policeman & asked what to do when I know their is an illegal immigrant working. His reply was that I could report it but Escambia County nor city of Pensacola police will do nothing about them.
Disgraceful & disgusting to say the very least.
My great grandfather came here and immigrated legally. His 8 brothers and sisters ALL died on the way here. I don’t feel remorse for those who think theyre more important than the millions of others who are waiting to legally come here. Those who break the law to come here should be deported and be put on the end of the waiting list. There should be no loopholes for them at all. Theyre ways to come here and work legally without becoming a citizen. This bill is watered down because a fed judge will deem any other further involvement a fed issue and not a state inforced law, even if the fed refuses to inforced the laws they swore to uphold.
We are being overrun by Illegal Alients mostly Hispanic. They are a net loss to the system as they are using our social welfare programs. We cannot afford this. I don’t see illegal Drs, Engineers and other professionals. I see laborers with no education exploiting our country. This has gone on too long. Tired of my tax dollars supporting these people. They don’t belong here unless they go through offical channels.
Fabriela said…..”i seriously cant even believe all of this im only 15years old and i dislike these laws soo much ! im born here but hispanic and its so unfair how hispanics or immigrants are treated this way.”
HI said…..High schools students in Arizona and California took down the US flag and ran up the Mexican flag. Many of those students were born here but their parents were not. A person who breaks the law to get here is not entitled to stay. And if you want to wave the Mexican flag “with” the US flag, that’s ok. But if you want to take down the US flag and hang the one from south of the border, then move there, head south.
People who come to the US should learn to speak English and obey the laws. If they don’t want to do that then adios. Can you imagine what would happen to me if I went to Mexico and lowered tht Mexican flag to hand the US flag above it? The sad thing is we have been too soft on this issue for so long that now it will take harsher measures to rectify.
I see the current Republican bill does not take the difficult path but instead makes it easier for business to hire illegals. All talk on immigration, huh Republicans?
i seriously cant even believe all of this im only 15years old and i dislike these laws soo much ! im born here but hispanic and its so unfair how hispanics or immigrants are treated this way. Immigrants work hard here and they get paid what ever they are offered because they have no say in it. Why cant we just have a reform for all of those who really want to work and succeed in this country and dont have a criminal record. After all americans still go to other countries why cant other people be here and work all together to help this country instead of just fighting and being so racist against hispanics and other races , those who think immigrants are worthless and want them out of here seriously dont have any heart at all and if you go to church and believe in god you arnt doing what he asks and why dont you put yourself in their situation ? and instead of giving this law give a REFORM TO THOSE HARD WORKERS WITH NO CRIMINAL RECORD AND THAT DONT BREAK THE LAW !!!!
I’m not going to ctiticize someone who is willing to work to support themselves and their family. Many jobs illegal immigrants do Americans would not. Take my step son for example. He’s too good for so many jobs that he does nothing, instead he moochs off his mother.
The companies who hire the illegals do it because they know they can pay them a low wage and get away with it. That is who I blame. The companies can take advantage because who can the workers complain to? No one.
Unless you are a Native American Indian – All Americans are immigrants or ancestors of immigrants. We are a nation of MUTS. But then they say muts are supposedly smarter.
P.A.P. is absolutely right. The son of an illegal immigrant has no one
to blame but his father. IF WE ALLOW EVERYONE WHO JUMPS THE BOARDER
TO JUST BECOME A CITIZEN, WE WOULD BE STORMED WITH IMMIGRANTS . We do have to have rules, and everyone must follow them, illegals HAVE caused too much chaos as it is now. In my opinion it is even worse to have to spend my money for lawbreakers who shouldn’t even be here in the first place, we have quite enough of our own to house that can’t live by the rules. My grandfather
had to live by the rules to get in and so should everyone else.
■Oscar Sanchez , wrong! The fault became theirs when they jumped the border. That was the first mistake, and that was illegal and that therefore gave them no chance to become legal citizens. I realize the wait can be long to come to the United States legally, but others do it. It is not fair that an illegal get in and then want to apply for a legal standing, not when there are others waiting for a legal entry. So do I feel sorry for these people? Well yes, I feel sorry for them, because they used poor judgement and caused their families so much hurt. We LEGAL citizens and voters cause nothing!
I am an attorney and don’t know how to make people understand that the laws of this country do not allow for people to attain legality through “legal” means. For example, if you are the son of a Mexican immigrant who came here illegally, there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING you can do. Your spouse can be a U.S. citizen, your employer may wish to retain you, your kids may be born here etc. You have no path to legality, no legal means to be here legally because the law prevents you from it. Please read the laws and inform yourselves before you judge the thousands of people who through no fault of their own have been condemned to live in fear and shame.
There are always reasons why they choose to not become legal and they
try to hide they are here but have all the perks we have when we pay all the
taxes and everything else that is required. I’m sorry but I have no sympathy
because he chose to break our laws and thus chose to be deported and
thus chose to leave his wife and 4 children. I can not MAKE people make
GOOD choices in their lives and I don’t understand WHY this bill is so
watered down about illegals who work and live in this country.
Since we were all immigrants at one point (or our ancestors were) I welcome new LEGAL immigrants and wish you well. The ones who are here illegally need to either become legal through proper channels or face being deported. I have no sympathy for this person whose husband was deported. He could have used legal means to be here and not had this happen. You have to play by the rules or pay the piper!
This sounds like a way companies can by pass the system and hire Aliens to work regardless . This isnt a system to prevent it, its only to by pass it
It is a sad reflection on our Federal government the states have to perform this function. If the Feds did their job, this would be unecessary. I guess the next step should be an interstate pact to deliver illegal aliens back to the border. I’m sure that would create an uproar, I think both major parties are looking for a “Guest Voter” program and support anchor babies.