Activists gathered today in Little Havana to denounce two immigration bills they see as unfair and to get tough on immigrants without regular status. But one of the sponsors says it is the most comprehensive and strong initiative against illegal immigration ever launched by a state government.
Protesters say these initiatives would attack immigrants in their daily activities if approved.
With a typical dance representing the origins of many immigrants, this is how a demonstration began today in the heart of Little Havana, against two bills that protesters say are anti-immigrant.
They claim that along with other groups across the state, they fight for communities that are under attack by state officials.
Andrea Mercado, executive director of the Florida Rising organization, said, “Basically, this puts every family in Florida at risk, because it makes it a felony or a misdemeanor to take an undocumented immigrant to the hospital, to take undocumented immigrant documents. football match”.
In summary, the HB 16-17 and SB 17-18 initiatives envisage:
-penalties for hiring or transporting undocumented migrants.
– prohibit counties and municipalities from providing funds and identification to people without regular status
-Hospitals must declare the immigration status of patients.
– requires private companies to comply with the e-verify system to verify the eligibility of an employee.
But this lawyer specializing in immigration law and member of the board of Doral explains that the initiative would apply under certain conditions.
Maureen Porras, immigration lawyer, says:
“Not only having entered illegally, but also not having been detected, I think it will be more difficult for this to apply to a lot of people, because most of the immigrants that we see, even if they entered illegally , were prosecuted.”
This immigration bill is badly needed because the federal government is not doing its job, said Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, who sponsored the bill, adding that he hopes the state of Texas will be the next to create a similar initiative to put pressure on the federal government.
Governor Ron DeSantis has said in the past that Florida is not a sanctuary state.
Both proposals are moving forward in Tallahassee.