News Articles
Arizona law fervor spreads locally
Pensacola News Journal, July 29, 2010
State Rep. Greg Evers wants Florida law enforcement officers to have the ability to investigate people they believe may be in the country illegally.
A federal court blocked similar provisions in an Arizona law on Wednesday. Less controversial elements of the law went into effect today. That decision is expected to be appealed.
Evers, R-Baker, filed the Florida Immigration Enforcement Act of 2010 for consideration in the recent special session of the Legislature that adjourned without action on any legislation.
But Evers — who is running for state Senate — says he will reintroduce the bill in a special session expected in September.
Evers said his motivation for the bill is "the cost of the illegals in the state of Florida and the draw it is on the economy by having to pay for the medical, the education and the incarceration" of illegal immigrants.
The bill, he said, will act as a deterrent for illegal immigrants, thus decreasing those costs.
"My people love it," Evers said. "My folks think it's been needed for a long time, and especially now, during these economic times."
Mike Hill, the Pensacola Republican running against Evers in the Aug. 24 primary, supports Evers' bill.
"I think it is necessary," said Hill. "We have an illegal immigration problem in Florida. Right now we are spending $3.8 billion a year on illegal immigration, and $3.4 billion of that is in our education system. I don't think we can afford that."
Santa Rosa County Sheriff Wendell Hall said as long as the officer has a legitimate reason to pull over or arrest someone, he supports allowing local law enforcement to check that person's immigration status.
"If we come in contact with somebody with reasonable suspicion ... at a traffic stop or if we are called to a home with a disturbance, we should be able to ask for identification," Hall said. "If they are here illegally, they are not going to be able to furnish (legal) identification."
Hall spearheaded 2008 efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants who used false documentation to obtain employment, a state crime. In that case, Hall said 28 illegal immigrants were turned over to federal officials and deported.
Escambia Sheriff David Morgan would not say whether he supports the Florida bill, only that "we currently support ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ) in enforcement of the federal law — which the Arizona law assimilates."
Gulf Breeze Police Chief Peter Paulding, who also serves as president as the Florida Police Chiefs Association, said he hasn't studied Evers' proposal. But he said the association was asked to look at contributing to enforcement of federal immigration law several years ago, and the group thought it would be too much of a burden on local law enforcement resources.
"From a broad perspective, all agencies across the state are struggling for a greater demand for services and fewer resources to provide a response than they were a few years ago," Paulding said.
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