A controversial bill in Florida requiring local police and governments to enforce federal immigration law passed the state House of Representatives on Feb. 3, prompting criticism from grassroots advocates who say it will create racial profiling.
Lawmakers approved House Bill 675 by a vote of 80 to 38, according to the Florida Immigrant Coalition, which opposes the legislation.
State Rep. Larry Metz, the bill sponsor, introduced it after last year’s fatal shooting of Kate Steinle by an immigrant in San Francisco, according to media reports. That immigrant had been released from local law enforcement custody.
“We have a problem that we have to build walls to keep people out of our country because we’re the greatest country in the world,” Metz said, according to the Tampa Bay Times.
“Without both border security and internal enforcement, the system breaks down, and to fix it, we have to do our part in the state of Florida.”
Grassroots advocates in the state vowed to make their voices heard when they cast ballots in November.
“Our communities will never forget the representatives who voted today to unleash the witch-hunt that will criminalize and racially profile our families. We are disappointed that members who are elected to represent our communities, would turn their backs on Florida’s families to gain favor in their party,” Pamela Gomez, Tallahassee organizer for the We Are Florida Campaign, said in a statement.
The bill advances to the Florida state Senate, but opponents plan to visit the state Capitol on Feb. 17 to voice their views on the legislation. They expressed disappointment that state representatives were willing to let local and state governments, as well as school districts, enforce U.S. immigration law.
That job historically has been left to the federal government. In recent years, local law enforcement agencies have been cooperating more with U.S. immigrant agents, especially over concerns of national security. Bill opponents say that residents in Florida’s cities and counties will fear calling the police for help.
For immigrants throughout the country, deportations have separated families and caused much pain. Abuse and denial of civil rights also have occurred when authorities took immigrants into custody.
If the bill becomes law, it would require local governments to detain people believed to be undocumented immigrants, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Also, the governor could have the power to remove local officials who disobey the law, the media company said.
“It’s frustrating to see legislators pass bills without understanding or acknowledging the impacts to key stakeholders. HB 675 forces local government and law enforcement to partner with federal immigration enforcement and waste limited resources,” Francesca Menes, Florida Immigrant Coalition policy director, said in a statement.
“What this means is that our teachers will be forced to report undocumented students or their parents,” she said before the vote.
Nearly all Republicans in the Florida Legislative Hispanic Caucus voted for the bill, advocates reported.
Immigration reform has remained a major and controversial topic in the country in recent years.
But no major law has emerged yet as how to best address the millions of undocumented immigrants who reform advocates say are contributing economically to the country and consider the United States their new home.
Founded in 1998, the Florida Immigrant Coalition works on human rights and social policy issues. More than 65 organizations are members of FLIC. This news item was posted on Feb. 1. It was updated on Feb. 3 to reflect the vote in the state House of Representatives.