As the Senate Budget Committee voted on a controversial immigration package in Tallahassee known as SB 2040, a coalition of interests, including those representing the biggest business interests in Florida, held a conference call on Wednesday to speak out against the bill, sponsored by Miami Republican Anitere Flores.
Critics would say the bill would increase racial profiling, mandate employers to use E-verify and will increase unfair detention and deportation of innocent immigrants. SB2040 will open the flood-gates for more anti-immigrant laws as other Senators tag their anti-immigrant bills onto the first one to gain traction
Flores has denied the criticism, saying, "The Legislation that I have proposed neither vilifies immigrants nor denies anyone due process. In fact, it puts all the onus on employers. As I have said many times, SB 2040 is a work in progress. Rather than criticize, I invite you to work on making it the best bill possible."
On the conference call Wednesday morning, Adam Babbington, vice president of government affairs for the Florida Chamber of Commerce, emphasized Florida's uniqueness compared to Arizona and other states who already have, or are in the process of passing legislation to crack down on illegal immigrants. "We have a unique relationship with our partners in Central and South America," Babbington said, emphasizing how much foreign trade and foreign tourists the state needs to fuel its economy. He also said that the last thing Florida needs is a debate on pulling Hispanic looking people over on the road asking for proof of their legal status. And he said that he believes that even though SB2040 hasn't even passed yet, it's already costing the state jobs.
This article appears in Apr 7-13, 2011.