Florida Bill Similar To Arizona’s

Florida is joining Arizona on the front lines of battling illegal aliens with a new bill released this week that seeks to crack down on the estimated 800,000 undocumented workers in the state.  Florida has been flirting with releasing an immigration bill since the summer when outgoing state Attorney General Bill McCollum wrote a similar proposal with state Representative William Snyder.

Snyder has yet to file that bill.  Now another bill has been filed by state Senator Michael Bennett.  Bennett’s bill allows law enforcement officers to check the residency status of anyone they suspect of being an illegal alien and would punish some legal’s who aren't carrying proper documentation.

Snyder told said that he's in no rush to file his bill and expects to unveil it next month. He said he is consulting with state Attorney General-elect Pam Bondi and minority communities who are concerned about the bill promoting racial profiling.

"Filing a bill is just pushing a button," he said. "I could do that in instant. Getting people behind the bill is what legislation is all about."

Bondi said she is still reviewing the details of Bennett's bill but expressed support for such a law.  "I am committed to working with the legislature in support of an immigration law for Florida that protects the public, guards against racial profiling and upholds the rule of law," she said. "I will stand up to any effort by the federal government to stop Florida from implementing such a law."

Like Snyder's bill, Bennett's measure would allow law enforcement officers to check immigration documents during a lawful detention if they suspect the detainee is not in the country legally. But the bill bans the use of race or ethnicity as a reason to check immigration papers. Immigrants who are caught not carrying their documents face a fine of up to $100 and up to 20 days in jail.

Several states are working to pass similar bills. As of last month, six other states have filled Arizona-style immigration bills, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

"I think there are people who are against illegal immigration and there's a whole separate group for open borders," Snyder said. "Those people are using my bill as a platform to rail against any immigration law."

Barack Obama won’t uphold federal laws against illegal aliens.  It’s time to applaud the states who are standing up for Americans.

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