Though the state Legislature met in March and April this year and rarely discussed the topic of illegal immigration, something major has happened in the debate over the past two months that has now focused Florida and many other states to now address the issue.
Was it an influx of undocumented people into the Sunshine State that has forced lawmakers to fall over themselves to create a tough new law? Or is it the fact that because Arizona, a border state with some serious issues involving illegal immigration, created a tough new law, and accompanying polls show its popularity?
Whatever's the case, Hillsborough area Republican Representative Kevin Ambler, in tandem with Lakeland state Senator Paula Dockery, will announce on Wednesday that game plan to introduce such legislation in Tallahassee next week.
"Fundamentally, the problems we are facing are a failure of the federal bureaucracy. There should be no greater purpose to our federal government than to protect and secure the sovereign borders of this nation." said Senator Dockery. "Yet, we see that every border and port of entry is vulnerable," she said.
A news conference has been scheduled for Wednesday morning in Representative Ambler's office to flesh out the details.
This article appears in Jul 8-14, 2010.