For the second consecutive year, the Florida Legislature is attempting to enforce harsh actions against undocumented immigrants in the state, And, for the second consecutive year, the state’s immigration advocates are firmly pushing back against laws that could harshly affect undocumented immigrants.
There are currently three bills in the House which, if they advance to law, would add to difficulties faced by undocumented immigrants resulting from the escalated enforcement of federal immigration laws.
Similar bills in the Florida House and Senate, HB 697 and SB 786, proposes to make it illegal for any Florida city to provide sanctuary to undocumented immigrants. This proposal is similar to a recent White House executive order that prohibits sanctuary cities in the nation.
Two other similar bills (HB 83 and SB 120) proposes more severe penalties for crimes perpetuated by undocumented immigrants, compared to other residents.
Immigration advocates across the state, including the Florida Immigration Coalition led by Francesca Menes, consider the bills before the Legislature as unconstitutional. A crowd of these advocates travelled to State Capitol in Tallahassee to make known their protest over any pending legislation.
Earlier this week the protestors, joined by Democrats who are members of the Florida Legislature, held a press conference to state more clearly the reason for their protest and presence in Tallahassee.
Menes speaking at the press conference said the advocates are tired for the immigrant community in Florida as if “we make no contribution to the state of Florida” when in fact the state’s large immigrant community play a vital role in building Florida’s economy. She and other advocates were emphatic in their statements that immigrants in Florida are here to stay.”
The advocates demanded that the legislature stop the progress of the respective bills as immigrants are “sick and tired of being threatened.”
Despite the protests and the opposition coming from Democrats in the House and the Senate, Republican lawmakers have not given any indication they will pull the bills, as they argue by being in the state without the required immigration documents, these immigrants have broken the law and should punished.
