A slice of Arizona may be coming to Florida in the form of an illegal immigration law.
When Florida's legislative session begins in Tallahassee next year, lawmakers will likely vote on an Arizona-style bill.
State Representative William Snyder is proposing the measure.
“I believe that giving local and state law enforcement authorities parallel jurisdiction with federal authorities is good policy,” said the Republican lawmaker from Stuart.
Paul Chehade, a Miami businessman and a voice in South Florida's Hispanic community disagrees.
“We're a federal country, a federal government, not a state government,” said Chehade. “It's stupid [for] each state to make different laws for that kind of regulation.”
Under Arizona’s new law, an officer can ask somebody for documentation proving they are a legal resident. In Representative Snyder's proposal, an officer could ask somebody his or her status during the course of any police investigation, including a traffic stop. Snyder says police in Florida would also be permitted to ask people for proper documentation.
Earlier this year, state lawmakers in the Florida House passed a bill authorizing local police to address illegal immigration. But HB 219 never made it to the Senate floor.
Another try is expected next year.
