Politics

Racial Profiling Takes Center Stage in Florida Immigration Fight

By: Lane Wright | Posted: March 18, 2011 3:55 PM

Around the State

Protesters rally on steps of Old Capitol against Arizona-style immigration bill in Florida | Photo: Lane Wright

Immigration reform is gearing up for a fight.

On St. Patrick's Day, more than 300 people identifying themselves as immigrants made their first stand on the crowded steps of the Old Capitol.

"Somos Florida!" they shouted in Spanish to a cadre of reporters and onlookers. The English translation quickly followed: "We are Florida!"

The protest, organized by the Florida Immigrant Coalition, with heavy support from the AFL-CIO, was primarily designed to target Rep. William Snyder's bill on enforcement of immigration laws. What is largely being called an Arizona-style immigration policy, HB 7089, has pitted immigrants and those sympathetic to their situation against Snyder, R-Stuart.

"We're here to fight!" said Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.

"If I can pick your oranges and strawberries, why is it I cannot be included in the population of this great state?" she questioned.

But Snyder says The Florida Immigration Enforcement Act really isn't an Arizona-style bill, but a Florida-style bill.

"We have similarities to the Arizona bill," Snyder said, "but we have some fundamental differences. Law enforcement officers in Arizona were allowed to determine immigration status during 'any lawful stop.' But in Florida, status could be determined only during criminal investigations. That's very significant."

Snyder says he's spoken with several interest groups, including the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, as they drafted the legislation.

Other provisions in HB 7089 include:

• Prohibiting the use of race, color, or national origin in enforcement.
• Requiring every employer to use the federal E-Verify system.
• Prohibiting companies from knowingly employing an unauthorized alien, authorizing complaints to a licensing agency that an employer has violated the law.

It also increases the maximum penalties when an undocumented resident commits a crime.

Despite the provision that prohibits officers from using race, color or national origin when enforcing the law, the stiffer penalties for those who do, and the provision that status inquiries happen during criminal investigations, racial profiling is a big concern for many across the state.

Rep. Luis Garcia, D-Miami Beach, stood at the front of the pack with his passport hanging around his neck. He told the crowd his own immigration story of how he arrived in the U.S. from Cuba 51 years ago.

"Since we started the session, I've been carrying my passport," said Garcia. "If somebody stops me and asks me for my papers, what am I going to show them? I don't have a green card. I'm a citizen. So I'm wearing my passport."

One strong supporter of the Florida Immigration Enforcement Act, Rep. Ritch Workman, R-Melbourne, says he understands the protestors' concern over the potential for racial profiling, but disagrees that HB 7089 doesn't address that concern.

"Racial profiling has been a problem long before Arizona," said Workman, "But I think people understand the issue and most police officers stand high above it these days."

Workman argues legislators can't let the fear of a few bad apples, those law enforcement officers who might use racial profiling tactics, deter them from addressing the problem of illegal immigration.

"The feds aren't doing their job," said Workman. "And when the fed is supposed to do something and doesn't, it falls on the states."

While Rep. Garcia's passport-around-the-neck gimmick helps reinforce his anti-racial-profiling stance, the reality will likely be less dramatic.

Because of processes involved with getting a Florida driver's license, Workman says it would be very difficult for an illegal resident to get one. And if someone stopped by an officer couldn't produce a license, a name and address could quickly verify that the person does have a license and likely a legal status.

"Law enforcement is expected to make every effort to determine citizenship," said Workman. "And the driver's license process is pretty thorough."

Still, many in Wednesday's rally argue the state shouldn't be seeking to criminalize the immigrants; rather, they should find alternative ways of dealing with the problem.

Rep. Mark Pafford, D-Palm Beach Lakes, suggests going after businesses that are hiring illegal immigrants and creating unfair competition for other businesses. But that provision is already in Snyder's bill.

"It's unfortunate that he hasn't read the bill," said Snyder, "because the bill clearly goes after employers that are using undocumented workers. That's a very strong piece in the bill."

While opponents may be vocal about their opposition to The Florida Immigration Enforcement Act, the bill appears to have support among Republicans and is expected to survive the House. But with more wild-card legislators in the Senate, its fate is less certain.

Lane Wright may be reached at Lane@sunshinestatenews.com or (561) 247-1063.

Tags: AFL-CIO, Arizona immigration law, Arthenia Joyner, HB 7089, Immigration reform, Luis Garcia, Mark Pafford, News, Ritch Workman, William Snyder, Politics, Government

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7:42PM MAR 18TH 2011

THEY WILL BE REMOVED IN 2012?

YOUR STATE COULD ALSO BE OVERRUN BY ECONOMIC ILLEGAL ALIENS THIS IS ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION-NOT-LEGAL!

BOYCOTT BUSINESS THAT THREATENED SENATORS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

All the Republican Senate cowards need to know that when they brushed aside some of the policing laws in Arizona, they will be forfeit their seats in 2012; compliments of the Tea Party. Immigration is no longer a less prominent issue, as just like jobs it is costing too much money that it is almost beyond imagination. Those RINO's in Arizona who sold their vote to corporate and big business and the zealot open border lobby will feel the wrath of the Arizona taxpayers. But not just in the financially ailing Arizona, but Utah, California, Nevada and many other States that have deceived the American population when voted into office. Americans should not have to compete with criminal foreigners who are being rewarded for their wrongdoing with taxpayer money. E-Verify must become a permanent tool to protect American jobs, with the full force of ICE. Just how much is your State spending to accommodate illegal aliens?

Secure Communities policing law, along with the 287 (g) should be enforced throughout the United States. On the agenda should be a National ID card, which should be issued to every native born American and resident legal immigrant. We will endure against the Leftist-Socialism sinking this country into of crisis. Incidentally--Any poll can be manipulated in favor of the lobbying or open border degenerates.

In Arizona Governor Brewer and State Senator Peirce authored a very harsh but financially needed set of policies to save the State from imminent insolvency.

SB 1309: Establishes criteria for Arizona citizenship, requiring at least one legal U.S. parent in order to receive Arizona citizenship. This would allow Arizona to eliminate instant birthright babies. The Republicans who down-voted could not have read the 14th amendment, in its entirety? That it includes the parents of an infant born in the US can stay? Why is nobody interpreting; Article 1 Section 9 Paragraph 1 where it gives the State(s) the sole right to permit into the State whom it thinks right and shall not be prohibited by the Congress, which doesn't preempt the rights of the Federal Government? Why should the U.S. Government or any of its states tolerate any individual or person to come into the sovereign nation and make demands to fit their wishes?

SB 1405: Requires an admissions officer of a hospital to verify a person's citizenship or legal status before admitting the person for non-emergency care.

SB 1407 Requires the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to collect data from school.

SB 1611: Specifies that it is unlawful for a person to operate a motor vehicle in Arizona if the person is unlawfully present in the U.S. They must demonstrate a lawful presence for obtaining public housing, a vehicle title and registration, community college or university admission or any public benefit.

Those who are fed up with paying even higher taxes to support the illegal immigration invasion should join THE TEA party in your State. The Tea Party is the only true hope with have against growing government, lower taxes and to stop the corrupt slime in Washington and State Capitols that is selling the future of your children. Europe is being overrun by economic immigrants, but this must be halted in America. From all over the world they are coming here, to make a better life. But then what about a better life for our families and our children? What about our children who have to learn in crammed schools for of illegal aliens. What about our own low income Americans, who are forced to wait for hours in hospital waiting rooms overcrowded with illegals? How about the billions of dollars spent in judicial courts, jails and prisons, inundated will illegal alien criminals? Don't let the Liberal press delude you of the truth and the astronomical costs now that will certainly gain momentum in the future. Illegal immigration must end now by insuring every dirty businessman or contractor who hires cut-price labor goes to prison.

There is a list of businesses issuing a stark warning to the Arizona politicians to back-off enacting any more anti-illegal immigration bills. It is my strong opinion by going to BIZJOURNAL, http://tinyurl.com/48tqjpt that if you is infuriated by this disgusting stance of large and small businesses to boycott them. Perhaps they might comprehend that the people have the power to stop this nation financial crippling by the ingress of cheap labor.

May be six months in Sheriff Joe Arpaio "TENT CITY" would alter their perception in giving jobs to illegal aliens? Free faxes to demand an end to illegal immigration can be found at NumbersUSA or any of the hundreds of pro-sovereignty, Pro-US Constitution groups. Local phone directories have blue pages to contact federal and State lawmakers. DOING NOTHING IS DESTROYING THIS GREAT COUNTRY. Illegal aliens are voting in our elections, using absentee ballots, so we need mandatory government ID to be eligible.

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LDouglas

7:41AM MAR 18TH 2011

"We're here to fight!" said Sen. Arthenia Joyner, D-Tampa.

"If I can pick your oranges and strawberries, why is it I cannot be included in the population of this great state?" she questioned."

Because legislators like you Sen. Arthenia Joyner who appear to be working for illegal immigrants rather than your constituents. And because legislators like you are ignorant or willfully ignorant of our immigration and guestworker laws, are closet open border advocates, or work for the best interests of businesses that profit from illegal labor even when it's at the expense of the rest of the population.

If you want those people to not be subject to the law Rep. Snyder's bill has proposed, and you want business to have a pool of cheap labor, we already have a program for that. If the H-2A
program isn't meeting the needs of orange and strawberry growers for cheap labor, then it's up to you to fix that program- not cripple our efforts to rid our state of criminal illegal immigrants (above being here illegally), and make sure the sacrifices we're making to create jobs goes to citizens and legal immigrants, as well as legal guestworkers.

The last thing I can say is how shameful of you to lead on illegal immigrants and suggest they deserve citizenship for being kind enough to pick our oranges and strawberries- for ten times the amount of money they could make in their home country.