Not Arizona's Law!

Florida lawmakers proposed a draft bill Wednesday that mimics and expands upon measures put forth in the now-enjoined Arizona immigration law. The legislation, which seeks to curb illegal immigration in the state, delineates a host of new requirements for law enforcement.

A CNN article describes details of the bill and its reception among Floridians.

The bill would make it a misdemeanor for an individual to seek employment in Florida if they are in the United States illegally, and require non-citizens to carry documentation or face possible charges and jail time.

Law enforcement agents would be required to inquire about an individual’s immigration status if they have reasonable suspicion that the person may be in the country illegally. Individuals who were in the country illegally would be detained and/or turned over for deportation.

The proposed bill would also increase sentencing requirements for illegal immigrants found guilty of crimes, making punishments more stringent for this population. Additionally, individuals would be required to go through an immigration status check before being released on bond.

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum claims that the draft Florida legislation is superior to the Arizona law, because it avoids some of the key issues that caused parts of the law to be blocked by a federal judge.

Civil liberties groups and immigrant rights advocates are concerned that this type of legislation will violate the civil rights of individuals and open up the door to racial profiling.