Après l’Arizona, la Floride

Citation et commentaire du 2 juillet 2010 — contribution de Jacques Laubion

Après l’Arizona, la Floride

Depuis que l’Arizona a édicté une loi anti-immigration illégale (loi contestée par Washington), on a annoncé que plusieurs autres Etats travaillaient à une législation similaire. La Floride est le premier d’entre eux à “passer à l’acte”, avec les républicains qui annoncent qu'ils proposeront une loi de cette sorte pour les élections de novembre.

(Une nouvelle de McClatchy.news du 26 juin, http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/06/26/v-print/96599/florida-gop-risks-hispanic-anger.html.)

«Florida Republican leaders have begun crafting anti-illegal-immigrant legislation modeled after an Arizona law that has incited widespread protests and fueled national and international debate over U.S. immigration policies.

»Under the proposed bill, police would have broad power under state law to ask suspects for proof of legal residency, said Rep. William Snyder, a Republican from Stuart who plans to introduce the legislation in November. “We have significant components from the Arizona bill that I plan to incorporate,”' he said. “We have the beginnings of it.'”

»The effort, which would be filed for consideration during the March legislative session, is already drawing broad support within the GOP.

»Majority leaders in the Florida Senate and House said a new approach is needed to address the federal government's failure to temper illegal immigration. It has the backing of both leading Republican gubernatorial candidates – businessman Rick Scott and Attorney General Bill McCollum, whose office is helping to draft the bill.

»Snyder, a former police officer, said the proposed legislation is needed to protect undocumented immigrants, who are vulnerable to abusive employers and violent criminals. “This is a human right issue,” he said. “They don't enjoy the same rights and privileges that you and I do. The solution is to enforce the laws that currently exist and to discourage people from coming here to ‘find a better life’ when in fact they just come here and are victimized.”»

La tension autour de ce sujet est très forte en Floride, avec une très forte communauté hispanique et les démocrates qui ont choisi de s'opposer à ce projet de loi.

«Critics questioned why Florida lawmakers would consider replicating Arizona's untested immigration strategy while legal challenges are still pending. “Rep. Snyder's proposal solves nothing, exploits public concern over immigration and just creates new problems,” said Howard Simon, executive director of ACLU Florida.

»The tension has become a rallying point for candidates on both sides of the political spectrum.

»Democratic gubernatorial candidate Alex Sink has highlighted her Republican opponents' support of the law in stump speeches. “She was opposed to the law in Arizona,” said campaign spokeswoman Kyra Jennings. “She believes it unfairly discriminated against American citizens. She would veto that type of legislation.”»

Jacques Laubion