Immigrants and their allies are working across Florida in order to defeat two anti-immigrant proposals in the state legislature.
We recently wrote about how two Republican representatives, Miami’s Carlos Trujillo and Yalaha’s Larry Metz, are sponsoring legislation inspired by Donald Trump’s toxic rhetoric.
One of those proposals, House Bill 675, would force local law enforcement to act as immigration agents and hold taxpayers responsible for the mandatory ICE detainers the will would mandate.
House Bill 675 made its way to the floor of the House of Representatives for a final vote this past Tuesday – but it was temporarily postponed by Representative Metz, and it is expected to resurface for a vote this upcoming week.
GREAT NEWS, we have another week to fight #HB675! It was not debated today! Nothing more powerful than our presence & stories #WeAreFL
— FLImmigrantCoalition (@FLImmigrant) January 27, 2016
The following day, immigrants across the state used the bill’s delay to mobilize to voice their opposition to their elected officials.
In Miami, immigration advocates crowded the office of Republican Representative Jose Felix Diaz, urging him to oppose HB 675 on account that it would undermine the relationship between local law enforcement and Miami’s immigrant community.
@josefelixdiaz we R domestic workers, DV survivors,farm workers, asking You 2 say NO to HB 675 #weareflorida pic.twitter.com/FoQnKbPowJ
— Miami Workers Center (@MiamiWorkersCtr) January 27, 2016
#Florida Workers are ready to say NO to anti-immigrant legislation! #HB675 #WeAreFlorida @FLImmigrant pic.twitter.com/n6hgP4dJLB
— Lis-Marie Alvarado (@LisMarieFL) January 27, 2016
Immigrants and residents in Tampa took to city hall, where they called a press conference in order to ask Mayor Bob Buckhorn to oppose HB 675.
“[HB 675] is going to create fear,” said Nancy Palacios, an organizer with the group Faith in Florida. “It’s going to create a lack of collaboration between the police force and the community, where people won’t want to report any kind of criminal activity or any kind of crimes because they would be scared to be asked their status.”
Advocates in Maitland visited the offices of Republican Representative Bob Cortes, where they delivered a letter signed by community leaders asking him to stand against HB 675. According to a report by Entravision, Representative Cortes has not taken a position on the bill as of yet.
#WeAreFlorida and we say NO to anti-immigrant laws! Rep. Bob Cortes stop #HB675 #AltoTrump pic.twitter.com/tRkplpiBbt
— FLImmigrantCoalition (@FLImmigrant) January 27, 2016
While in Tallahassee, members from Young American Dreamers, the Florida Immigrant Coalition, LULAC Florida, and Florida AFL-CIO joined Democratic Senator Dwight Bullard and Representative Jose Javier Rodriguez at a press conference in the Florida State Capitol against HB 675.
Photos from today’s press conf – @americasvoice, @FLImmigrant, @YAD52110, and @JoseJavierJJR speak against #HB675 pic.twitter.com/ibOFznYwMh
— Juan Escalante (@JuanSaaa) January 27, 2016
.@YAD52110 in FL House Chamber waiting for #HB675 debate! #WeAreFL .@francescamenes .@pamcgomez .@tbpalacios22 pic.twitter.com/YBMuf9tenq
— FLImmigrantCoalition (@FLImmigrant) January 27, 2016
As advocates await the return of HB 675 in the House of Representatives, they have used the extra time to demonstrate that they will not sit on the sidelines as Republicans try to enact anti-immigrant proposals in Florida.
And their efforts seem to be drawing national attention, as Democratic Presidential candidate Martin O’Malley weighed in on HB 675 via Twitter:
Florida, stop with the self-deportation tactics. #HB675 is wrong. We do not deny education to children in the United States. #WeAreFlorida
— Martin O'Malley (@MartinOMalley) January 27, 2016
Follow the Florida Immigrant Coalition for news and updates on HB675.
