"A Day Without Immigrants" rally in Nebraska in 2006. (Photo by Steve White.)
By Ralph De La Cruz
Florida Center for Investigative Reporting
Let the games begin:
The immigration issue has arrived at the statehouse in Tallahassee.
On March 10, the House of Representatives’ Judiciary committee passed Rep. William Snyder’s PCB JDC 11-01, an immigration bill that would require businesses to use e-verify when hiring employees and push state law enforcement agencies to enter into “287(g)” agreements with the federal government. The 287(g) program has local officers work with immigration officials to identify and detain undocumented immigrants, particularly those already in custody.
Today, the Senate judiciary will debate its own version of an immigration bill — Sen. Anitere Flores’ SPB 7066 — which largely mirrors the House version.
It’s going to get interesting. Just look at recent history.
Gov. Rick Scott promised Arizona-style immigration enforcement during his campaign. But when legislation first surfaced a little over a month ago, the Hispanic legislative caucus was bucking it, business didn’t want it, and Scott suddenly seemed somewhat unenthusiastic about the legislation.
But when the session opened last week, immigration enforcement had made a comeback, becoming one of the first pieces of major legislation that Republicans, the super-majority party in both houses, are pushing. Never mind that the bills would impose new regulations and bureaucracy on businesses — precisely the thing against which Republicans campaigned.
Immigration’s prominence has prompted groups such as Floridians for Immigration Enforcement and the Florida Immigrant Advocacy Center to begin seriously lobbying the public.
On March 11, after their loss in the House, the Advocacy Center sent an e-mail imploring supporters to:
Contact these Senators NOW and OFTEN:
Senator Anitere Flores (R) – Committee Chair
(305) 270-6550
(850) 487-5130
flores.anitere.web@flsenate.govSenator Arthenia Joyner (D)
(813) 233-4277
(850) 487-5059
joyner.arthenia.web@flsenate.govSenator Ellyn Setnor Bogdanoff (R)
(954) 467-4205
(561) 650-6833
(850) 487-5100
bogdanoff.ellyn.web@flsenate.govSenator Oscar Braynon (D)
(850) 487-5116
braynon.oscar.web@flsenate.govSenator Garrett Richter (R)
(239) 417-6205
(850) 487-5124
richter.garrett.web@flsenate.govSenator David Simmons (R)
(407) 262-7578
(850) 487-5050
simmons.david.web@flsenate.govSenator John Thrasher (R)
(904) 727-3600
(850) 487-5030
thrasher.john.web@flsenate.gov
I won’t be calling anyone on the Immigrant Advocacy Center’s behalf because … well … journalists don’t operate that way. We research, observe, analyze and report what we found out.
And it just so happens I’ve spent the past week at a conference in Norman, Okla., and Dallas looking at … immigration.
I was one of 15 journalists from throughout the country who gathered for the Immigration in the Heartland conference. We heard from some of the United States’ top economists and demographers, both advocates and opponents of immigration (including the lawmaker who is pushing the anti-immigration legislation in Oklahoma), legal and illegal immigrants, refugees and top government officials. We went to immigration courts, churches, schools, a mosque. And even the Oklahoma City bombing site and memorial.
Yeah, it was a busy week. And in upcoming blog items, as Florida lawmakers tangle with immigration legislation, I’ll try to share what I learned.
I think there will be some surprises for almost everyone.