Legislators Get an Earful on Immigration

Local legislators held their annual public meeting Thursday to solicit ideas for legislation in the upcoming session in Tallahassee. A relatively new group called Unidos Now packed the Manatee County Commission Chambers to hear their spokesman – former Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner – chide two state senators and four state representatives on the topic of immigration.

“We would like to do a better job engaging with you on the issues that affect this community,” Kirschner said at the outset. “Our task is the integration of the exploding Hispanic community into the civic and cultural life of Florida.”

He noted between the 2000 census and last year’s, the Hispanic population in Florida grew 127 percent.

The delegation chairman – State Sen. Mike Bennett (R-Bradenton) – introduced a bill into the Legislature for the last session modeled after a controversial Arizona law called the toughest in the country on illegal immigration. It gave authorities broad powers to detain anyone suspected of being in the country illegally, among other provisions.

Bennett later withdrew the bill, a move Kirschner noted. “I want to thank you for pulling that bill. These kind of laws would cripple agriculture in the State of Florida,” said Kirschner. “You should let Florida truly be a portal to the Americas.”

Bennett interrupted, saying, “I pulled that bill, but nobody offered an alternative. We have to uphold the law. We’ll probably see an immigration bill again next year. I would look forward to a solution, and hope you would offer an alternative.”

Kirschner wasn’t the only one interested in talking about immigration. Jeanette Ocasio representing the National Organization of Women urged the delegation to “consider the impact of immigration bills on victims of domestic abuse.” Women here illegally, she said, virtually never report spouse abuse for fear of deportation.

Jorge Chacon, a consultant and venture capitalist, is a co-founder of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce. “The history of Florida and the United States was created by immigrants,” he said. “Present policies will drive away immigrants, and eventually will drive away visitors.”

Manual Chepote came up from Sarasota to testify. He’s a past president of the Gulf Coast Latin Chamber of Commerce and a long-time insurance agent. “Anti-immigration legislation makes it difficult to recruit employees and retain employees,” he said. “Ninety percent of agricultural workers are undocumented. Who will pick our fruit? At least give them a working permit. Today they are driving with no license or ID.”

Bennett said, “We should have a work program. We should have a unified program. We have to find a way, but it should be a federal policy. It may take several states passing conflicting laws before the feds will act.”

Ironically the topic of immigration law came up the night before at the Bradenton City Council meeting. The Council issued a proclomation for the 54th annual Farm-City Week celebration. Ralph Garrison, a life-long farmer in Manatee County, thanked the Council, but noted it’s hard to be a farmer today. “It’s tough times now for agriculture. Too much regulation, and all this fair trade and treaties, and immigration. They can’t tackle an immigration law to keep agricultural labor alive.”

Wearing his wide straw hat in chambers, Garrison quoted Daniel Webster: “Unstable is the future of a country that has lost its taste for agriculture.” Kirschner noted earlier at the delegation hearing, “There are 800,000 people employed in Florida agriculture. It’s one of the state’s biggest industries.”

A high school student and volunteer for Unidos Now told the legislators young Hispanics daily confront a “you do not belong here” attitude.” And she said children of illegal aliens, although born in Florida, are denied in-state tuition at Florida universities.

Sen. Nancy Detert (R-Sarasota) replied, “Florida has a deeply entrenched Hispanic culture, and we’re proud of it. This is a complex, nuanced issue. We’re not in a punitive mode. We’re trying to solve a problem.”

The microcosm of the legislative delegation’s hearing Thursday – plus an old farmer’s observation the night before – seem to show a wide and diverse coalition in favor of non-punitive immigration reform. Unidos Now mobilized a large, and mostly young crowd for the hearing. But a venture capitalist, an entrenched businessman, a Manatee native farmer and a National Organization of Women representative – all said much the same thing as well.

Sen. Bennett is in a very unusual position for a political figure. He has risen to the second-most-powerful position in the body as Senate President Pro Tem. Next year will be his last because of term limits, and he has announced he will not run for the Manatee County Commission. Thus he is not in the normal and perpetual campaign-donation-raising mode. Like several of his predecessors in Manatee who gained great power in the Florida Senate, Bennett would like to make an enduring mark. 

One thing is sure. Sen. Bennett wants to leave some footprints. A smart immigration reform bill in Florida could be a national model.