TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Hundreds of people opposed to legislation that seeks to ban so-called sanctuary cities gathered at the state capitol Tuesday.
Bills moving in the legislature are aimed at forcing local governments to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, by requiring them to comply with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention requests and to repeal sanctuary policies.
Under the proposed bills, police would be required to honor all requests made by ICE to hold undocumented immigrants. During their rally at the capitol, opponents of the sanctuary city bills argued the legislation has more to do with partisan politics than with fixing actual problems.
Democratic State Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez says people need to continue to make their voices heard during the 2019 legislative session.
“The reason it is so important that you have come here is that the consequences of this bill need to be front and center. Our colleagues need to understand all the damage they will do in so many parts of our community," said Rodriguez.
A measure working through the House would lead to tough penalties if local governments do not fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities, including removal of local officials from their posts.
The Senate bill does not include most of the sanctions for local governments. Both bills must pass one more committee hearing before being heard by the full House and Senate.
