Legislature considering 30 immigration bills

[Jeanfromfillmore]

Legislature considering 30 immigration bills
SEBRING - The Florida Legislature's attempts to weed out illegal aliens have sparked protests, but most of the bills are still alive.
A check on Thursday showed 33 House and Senate measures contain the word "immigration." Three have been withdrawn, however, three still exist with language similar to Arizona's controversial law.
On a March 11 call with reporters, Florida religious leaders called on state legislators to "reject anti-immigrant legislation that will divide communities, separate families and prevent churches from ministering to those in need."
They urged political leaders to focus on "real solutions that protect our values."
Legislators, who began their 2011 session on March 8, passed a stringent anti-immigrant measure out of the House Judiciary Committee on March 10. Protestors assembled at the Capitol; HB 237 and SB 136 were withdrawn.
However, HB 7089/SB 189 still exists, with similar language.
United Methodist Bishop Timothy Whitaker of the Florida Conference, Lakeland, said putting local law enforcement in charge of enforcing federal immigration laws had far-reaching and troubling consequences. "Such an approach is not healthy for protecting human beings against crime and building up the moral life of the community," he said. "The proposed legislation is lacking in both wisdom and compassion."
The Rev. Russell Meyer, executive director of the Florida Council of Churches, Tampa, pointed out that Christianity universally considers the fair and just treatment of immigrants as a desirable virtue.
"That's why you find churches involved with health-care clinics and schools and clothing drives and advocacy for migrant workers," Meyer said. "That's why the churches have long been the agencies that resettle refugees."
In a March 17 story, Bradenton.com reported that Gov. Rick Scott has said he supports the Arizona-style immigration law that gives greater power to law enforcement.
Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner, who spoke at a Capitol protest, said the state has no business trying to regulate immigration, which is a federal issue.
Other bills
HB 55/SB318 Exempts undocumented college students – except illegal aliens – from paying nonresident tuition if they attended high school in the state for three or more years, graduated from a Florida High School or obtained a GED. Aliens can file an affidavit with the state university stating that the student has applied to legalize his or her immigration status.
HB 205/SB 304 Requires the Department of Corrections and Parole to establish agreements with federal authorities to ensure that deportable aliens are not released from prison into the community, reduce the number of criminal aliens incarcerated in the state prison system, allow eligible inmates to be released for deportation before the expiration of their sentences, expedite the deportation process, and improve information-sharing between DOC and federal immigration authorities.
HB 271/SB 230 Adds to state law by forbidding contractors and subcontractors to contract for services unless the contractor registers and participates in a federal work-authorization program.
HB 691/SB 518 Prohibits an employer from employing unauthorized aliens; requires every employer to verify the employment eligibility of each employee; requires public employers to register with and participate in the E-Verify system for specified purposes. Businesses which don't use E-Verify can lose their licenses.
SB 1114 Requires jailors to determine the citizenship status of prisoners within 48 hours.
HB 237/SB 136 (withdrawn) Required state and local officials may not limit or restrict federal immigration laws. Law enforcement officers may, on reasonable suspicion, determine if the person stopped, detained, or arrested is an alien and is unlawfully present in the United States.
An arrested person shall have his or her immigration status verified with the Federal Government before the person is released. However, the bills say, "A law enforcement officer … may not consider race, color, or national origin … except to the extent permitted by the United States or the State Constitution."
"A person is presumed to be a lawful alien … if the person provides a U.S. identification card, a Florida driver's license or tribal ID card." If the alien is unlawful, the law enforcement agent must notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Border Patrol.
Any Floridian "may bring an action in a county court to challenge any official or agency of this state … which adopts or implements a policy that limits or restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws … to less than the full extent permitted by federal law. If the court finds that the state or political subdivision has violated this section, the court shall order that the state or political subdivision pay a civil penalty of not less than $500 and not more than $5,000 for each day that the policy has remained in effect.
The court may award court costs and reasonable attorney's fees to the plaintiff.
A person who willfully fails to complete or carry an alien registration document required under subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable by a $100 fine and 20 days in jail.
http://www2.highlandstoday.com/conte...gration-bills/