The Florida House of Representatives approved a Republican initiative that prohibits the “sanctuary cities” policies that protect detained immigrants and directs law enforcement agencies to cooperate with federal immigration authorities.
After a long debate for two days, lawmakers approved the proposal on Wednesday by voting 69-47 and turned it over to the Senate, where a similar initiative is pending.
There is no official definition of “sanctuary city,” but it often means that a city cooperates little-or does not cooperate with federal immigration authorities regarding the persecution of people living in the United States without authorization.
Florida does not have “sanctuary cities” like other states. The bill, sponsored by Republican Representative Cord Byrd, would ban such policies and force local law enforcement agencies to comply with requests from the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) to keep them in detention for deportation.
“We welcome you in. We just ask you for something very simple: to abide by our laws and our rules,” Byrd said.
The American Civil Liberties Union recommended to immigrants not to come to Florida for the risk of being arrested, and there were protests in the state against the measure. The Democrats failed to soften the initiative or include exceptions, and accused the Republicans who pushed the measure to persecute immigrants to take political advantage at a time when President Donald Trump has made the fight against immigration a central part of his government.
Many Democrats, such as Representative Dotie Joseph, cited passages from the Bible on how to treat foreigners and welcome immigrants.
“We are taught to love foreigners in our land, we are not supposed to mistreat or oppress foreigners among us,” said Joseph, who is Haitian-American.
“Immigrants do not come to cause terror or make this place a horrible place, they come because this is the land of opportunity,” added Democrat Anika Omphroy, of Haitian and Jamaican ancestors.
However, Republicans rejected criticism that the measure is anti-immigrant and xenophobic.
“The bill does not seek to kick the illegals out of the state of Florida, it seeks to protect the citizens of the state of Florida,” said Republican Representative Michael Caruso.
In addition to compelling cooperation with federal authorities, the measure would allow the suspension or dismissal of local officials who authorize sanctuary
A similar proposal was approved last year in the House of Representatives, but the Senate version was not put to a vote. The measure apparently has enough momentum this year to get final approval in both houses.
Since taking office, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis urged his state lawmakers to pass a bill banning sanctuary cities.
