Rick Scott Endorses Arizona-Style Immigration Enforcement

Florida Governor-elect Rick Scott (R) recently gave his blessing to the practice of asking suspects who are stopped by authorities for proof of their citizenship, a measure suggested in a recent Arizona-style immigration bill proposed in his state.

"We need to come up with an immigration policy that works for the country,'' he said, according to the Miami Herald. "Finally, if you're stopped in our state -- no different than if you're asked for your ID -- you should be able to be asked if you're legal or not."

Scott apparently has not yet read the legislation, brought forth by State Senate President Pro Tempore Mike Bennett (R), which means it is unclear whether the Sunshine State's next governor also supports wording in the bill that would implement a fine and possible jail time for legal immigrants who don't carry proof of their legal status.

"I have no specifics right now on what an immigration bill would have to have, but his position is still if someone violates Florida laws, the police should ask if they are legal or not,'' said Scott spokesman Trey Stapleton. "If they are in the state illegally they should be deported.''

The legislation, based upon a partially-successful and highly controversial law signed earlier this year in Arizona by Gov. Jan Brewer (R) and supported by Scott during his campaign, is already drawing criticism for its supposed threat to American freedoms.

State Sen. Bennett, who recently conceded that he doesn't "think anyone is looking for a bill that has a police officer stopping everyone on the street who has a tan or dark hair,'' has denied that there is anything in his proposal that would encourage profiling or infringe upon anyone's rights.

"We're not doing a racial profiling type bill," Bennett said of his legislation, which would allow law enforcement to ask for documentation if there is "reasonable suspicion" that a suspect is illegally in the United States. "I think we have to find ways to correct the illegal immigration problem. How do we reduce the amount of illegals involved in criminals activities?"

Comments

[Betzy S]

11:07 PM on 12/25/2010

I believe FLorida needs jobs, forclosure help, allowing people to keep their
homes and many other more important issues then an Immigration law
that clearly creates RACIAL PROFILING and demeans the
LATINO/HISPANIC community and undermines their worth in this
State. Lets focus on what bills like this would do to our TOURISM.
We are FLORIDA and the hospitality of our state would be
compromised. Lets focus on the AG Job bill since we are an
Agricultural state that depends on it not only for food but because
it employs people here in our STATE.

[hoho5973]

10:49 PM on 12/13/2010

You know, the fed could simplify their whole "immigration reform" drama by simply photocopying the AZ legislation, and editing out the parts that designate it as only for AZ and redesignate it as a federal law, etc. And to think Congress makes things so difficult for themselves.

[cdecisneros]

03:07 PM on 12/07/2010

Maybe the business leaders who contributed to his campaign will tell him that they cannot possible run their businesses without illegal labor espically hospitality, construction and farming.

[cdecisneros]

03:05 PM on 12/07/2010

Wow, Now he is spending $100,000 to tour the state. So much for the promise to cut waste full spending unless he is paying for it out of his own pocket. And he hired a CALIFORNIA production company to film it. What is the matter? Nobody in Florida can work a camera. Wouldn't it be better for a FLORIDA GOVERNOR TO HIRE A FLORIDA COMPANY???

[cdecisneros]

06:39 AM on 12/07/2010

Rick Scott job creation total so far -113. Does not BOA know that a business friendly governor is here?

[theerrantsoul]

03:16 PM on 12/06/2010

Personally, I'd rather have my local police stopping violent criminals and drug dealers (legal citizenship or not) than chasing after people whose sole crime is Being Here - we have an agency for that, and they're breaking records this year with how many people they're deporting. 
 
Yes, it is illegal to be an illegal immigrant (obviously), but there is far more crime than we have enforcers.  In a hospital, they use triage to prioritize - law enforcement needs to do the same.

[caneca]

07:38 AM on 12/04/2010

For all of you out there that suffer from the "Illegal Immigrant Hysteria". Have you ever thought what would happen if we really deport every single illegal immigrant in this country? Have you thougt about the economic consequences of destroying a large percentage of our agricultural industry, meat packing industry, etc?
Well, maybe this is the way to go. But, if you have your way be prepared to see many more industries leave our country, import most of your food, pay a lot more for the food you eat, and cut your own damm grass!

Beware of what you wish for. You may get it.

[phoenix39]

02:27 AM on 12/06/2010

Hmm, how many legal citizens are out of work? And please spare me the rhetoric that illegals are the cure-all to all of America's ails because we had poor black and white people do the same job. Rich companies greedily started this mess and it should be their responsibility to clean this crap up. That means no more employment of illegals. And whether bleeding hearts think it's wrong or not, there are more people than not who want our country to follow the laws. If I have to follow the laws, then I think this is the perfect time to teach illegals to follow the laws.

[theerrantsoul]

03:19 PM on 12/06/2010

Maybe it isn't fair that illegal immigrants get away with "breaking the rules".  It's also not fair that they're typically people who are born into poverty, whose own countries have forgotten or outright persecuted them.  But I guess if there's nothing in it for you, it's not your problem.

[theerrantsoul]

03:18 PM on 12/06/2010

We also need to take into account the fact that illegal immigrants own or rent homes owned by Americans and American companies, shop in American supermarkets and malls, and pay American sales and property taxes where applicable.
 
Is it really practical to aim for 12 million fewer consumers in our country?

[voyager48]

12:48 PM on 12/08/2010

Recent studies have shown that illegal families create a $10,000 deficit each year. Assuming 11 million illegals in family unit sof 4 = 2.7 million families, we could save teh country $$27BN by deporting them.

[daveFLA]

11:31 AM on 12/03/2010

I won't defend Scott but it's hilarious that many degrade Scott for allegedly breaking the law yet have no problem sticking up for illegal immigrants doing the same thing. Scott defrauded the govt. Illegal aliens use schools including colleges and hospitals for free basically defrauding Americans who believe that our money should go to help other Americans.
Should their be a better path to citizenship? Absolutely? Should the govt crack down on employers? Yup. Should they be profiled? No.
It's true. We need people to do the menial jobs but what about the carpenters, masons, and roofers who used to make a good wage doing quality work that were pushed out by people who could charge almost nothing because their standard of living was so low?
Now how many of you actually live in a state flooded with illegals? I live in Fla coming here a few years ago from SoCal. I've lived as far South as Chula Vista where there are actually signs on the highway with a man, woman, and child holding hands running across the street warning drivers not to hit border jumpers. How many of you have seen the gangs, the crime?
Why would many of these people come here to work and to get an opportunity they don't have at home and desecrate our flag, refuse to speak English, or assimilate. I'm not saying all illegals are like this because I've known some that were as if not more patriotic than some Americans.

[caneca]

07:24 AM on 12/04/2010

DaveFlA: The issues here go well beyond just what rights should illegal immigrants have:This is also about the possible abuse of civil rigts of American citizens that could potentially be thrown in jail for not having the right skin tone and not carrying proof of legal status.
Also, lost in the hysteria over illegal immigrants is the issue that giving the States power over the Federal government on immigration could set very dangerous precedents. This is a constitutional issue that the proponents of tougher immigration laws want to by-pass.

[Just-a-Guy]

02:29 PM on 12/06/2010

So why don't the Feds say the same thing to California that they said to AZ?

Arizona wanted to take immigration law into their own hands and the Feds said: "No. You can't do that. That's our responsibility."

California wants to opt out of Secure Communities. Cities and counties within CA knowingly fail to report detained illegal immigrants to ICE. They are in direct conflict with federal law. And the Feds say: "Nothing to see here. You keep doing what you are doing California!"

Which sends the message that the federal government WANTS to allow illegal immigration to continue to flow. See how that works?

[theerrantsoul]

03:21 PM on 12/06/2010

Let's look at motives.  Why did Rick Scott defraud Medicare?  To make a buck for himself and his company.  Why do most illegal immigrants come here?  To find work, in order to feed themselves and their families.  I'm sorry, but I can't consider those acts to be equal.

[BruceB]

11:30 AM on 12/03/2010

I'll support it if they go after all those illegal Cubans. And Haitians. And probably a lot of Canadians that extend beyond their 180 days.

[spytheweb]

06:53 PM on 12/03/2010

Illegal aliens that means all of them from everywhere not just Mexicans, thou by far Mexicans are the most illegal by far, 62%.

[KaAp]

09:57 AM on 12/15/2010

The way the Florida law will be written excludes Canadians ... and let's not forget Cubans are refugees .. what the law does is attempt to target people whose skin is brown. And, it will infringe on the rights of citizens of the US ... It is clearly racialized in Arizona, in Florida it gets more specific and focuses not just on race but on ethnic origin ...

[Sean 6399]

10:55 AM on 12/03/2010

Illegal immigrants deported?

Surely you jest.

[Manny Peddy]

10:51 AM on 12/03/2010

I am amazed. Many people are attacking the governor for his plans to abide by US law as though that were the end of the world.

It is pure insanity.

And I am an immigrant. I have many friends who are immigrants. We did it honestly and we did it legally. It wasn't easy, but we did it.

This country's lax immigration policies are a terrible drain on this country. So bad, in fact, that I might very well pack up and leave and go somewhere else where the rule of law means something.

[caneca]

07:29 AM on 12/04/2010

Would you like to live in country where you are required to carry your passport with you at all times, and where you can be thrown in jail for not having it with you? Because that is where we are heading if the proponents of AZ-style immigration laws have their way.

[de-meme-ing]

08:22 AM on 12/04/2010

Well, we are already being stripped searched at the airports and most aren't complaining, why not be forced to carry your passport, or birth certificate at all times?

Isn't it a hypocracy for Americans to accept one violation and not another, or do we get to choose depending upon our affinity for who does and doesn't get special treatment?

[babyboomerorig]

10:41 AM on 12/03/2010

I hope FL realizes who they put into office in Nov.

My condolences to all those who voted against this man. You don't deserve what the others have given you.

[zest]

10:23 AM on 12/03/2010

The new immigration policy needs to include the repeal of "The Cuban Adjustment Act" which was enacted by the Kennedy administration.

[DexGor]

10:08 AM on 12/03/2010

Huffpot is leaving out the part of the bill that makes exceptions for Canadians and Europeans - it presumes they are here legally.

[spytheweb]

06:55 PM on 12/03/2010

"the bill that makes exceptions for Canadians and Europeans" Canadians and Europeans are 6% of the illegals, Mexicans are 62%.

[DARK STAR]

10:06 AM on 12/03/2010

While I don't like Scott, in any other country if you are there illegally they are not kind to you. If you are there illegally and commit a crime then they are really not nice to you.

Those opposed to this have probably never been to another country let alone another country they gained illegal access to and worked in...

Wake up and show your card if you are a guest, it is as simple as that.