by Michael Peltier
The News Service of Florida
Setting the stage for floor debate, a House panel on Thursday approved a measure requiring employers to screen newly hired workers for their immigration status and giving police the power to question criminal suspects to determine if they are in the country illegally.
Despite a flurry of testimony in opposition from children and the clergy, the House Economic Affairs Committee approved the measure (HB 7089) that backers say will allow the state to take steps to control illegal immigration without going to the extremes that have left an Arizona law tied up in court.
“There are 825,000 people today in Florida living in the shadows that do not have rights that you and I have so that we can eat our salads and get our lawns mowed and get our yards raked,” said Rep. William Snyder (R-Stuart) and sponsor of the bill.
By an 11-7 vote, the committee approved the measure over the objections of immigrant advocates and the state’s largest business and agricultural groups, including the Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Farm Bureau.
The groups argue that the federal E-Verify system set up to check immigration status that the bill would require employers to use is flawed. They also say illegal workers are not taking away jobs from lawful residents.
Further, they say debate over immigration is giving the tourism-fueled state a black eye.
“The mere consideration of this bill is causing the image of the state of Florida to be tarnished both nationally and internationally,” said Adam Babbington, vice president of government affairs for the Florida Chamber.
The House version would require employers to check the immigration status of newly hired workers through E-Verify. Amendments added Thursday would provide protections for businesses that hire workers not legally residing in the country if they slip through E-Verify, which has been widely criticized for being unreliable.
The bill would also allow police to seek the identity and immigration status of suspects in criminal investigations. Suspects found guilty would face a second degree misdemeanor.
Backers of the measure said the state shouldn’t look the other way at what is, at its essence, an illegal act.
“The situation really devalues citizenship when we offer jobs to those who are not in this country legally,” said Rep. Ronald Renuart (R-Ponte Vedra Beach).
Critics of the plan also said, however, that it would lead inevitably to racial and ethnic profiling despite language in the bill that prevents singling out suspects based on their skin color, language or other ethnic features.
They also said that a mere allegation, regardless of merit, could trigger an investigation and subsequent charges.
Committee members also heard from a number of teenagers who are U.S. citizens because they were born in the United States. Their parents, however, are in the country illegally, some for decades.
“We want to be able to go to school every morning without having to worry if our family will be there when we get out,” said Cecilia Perez, a sophomore at Largo Magnet School.
Snyder said despite the tearful testimony, the responsibility for their predicament lies squarely on the shoulders of those who. despite years of residence in Florida, have failed to go through the naturalization process.
“These children here today crying out for mercy are here because of the wrong actions of their parents,” said Snyder.
“The unintended consequence of coming to this country illegally has set up some of the stories you are hearing today.”
In the Senate, action on a less restrictive version (SB 2040) that only includes employer verification requirements was postponed until after Easter.