Florida may penalize those who don’t enforce immigration law

Author: the associated press
Published: Updated:
MGN

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida could penalize cities, counties and sheriffs who don’t fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities.

A House panel on Thursday voted along party lines for a sweeping measure sponsored by Rep. Larry Metz. The measure heads next to the full House for a vote.

Metz says he sponsored the bill (HB 675) in response to a 2015 incident in San Francisco in which a woman was fatally shot by a Mexican immigrant. The suspect had been released earlier that year by the San Francisco County sheriff’s office, despite a request by federal immigration authorities to detain him.

Seven Florida counties have “sanctuary” policies that allow authorities limited cooperation with immigration authorities according to the Florida House.

Immigrant advocates and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida oppose the bill.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.