Florida May Penalize Those Who Don't Enforce Immigration Law
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — Florida may be able to penalize cities, counties and sheriffs who do not enforce federal immigration laws.
A House panel on Thursday voted along party lines for a sweeping measure sponsored by Rep. Larry Metz. The measure heads next to the full House for a vote.
Metz says he sponsored the bill (HB 675) in response to a 2015 incident in San Francisco in which a woman was fatally shot by a Mexican immigrant. The suspect had been released earlier that year by the San Francisco County sheriff's office, despite a request by federal immigration authorities to detain him.
Seven Florida counties have "sanctuary" policies that allow authorities limited cooperation with immigration authorities according to the Florida House.
Immigrant advocates and groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida oppose the bill.
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