Mayor Takes Stand Against Proposed Immigration Bill

Sarasota Mayor Kelly Kirschner does not want what happened in Arizona last year to happen in Florida. He saw the the massive protests from the Latin community, the terrible press coverage and even rock bands boycotting playing gigs in Arizona.

He saw the state sign into law an immigration policy that put the law and its enforcement in the hands of local officials. A similar bill is being proposed by Republican Representative Mike Bennett and on Monday Kirschner will discuss the proposed immigration bill with the other commissioners at City Hall.

"Not to say anyone condones illegal immigration here, what it is, is to say we don’t want to follow Arizona down some path with some negative press," Kirschner said. 

Sarasota uses the citizenship verification system E-Verify before hiring an employee. 

Citing the Utah Compact immigration measure, Kirschner said he wants the commissioners and other municipalities to sign the Florida Compact, which states immigration is a federal issue. It is the last agenda item for tonight's commission meeting. 

The Florida Compact says legislatures should focus on Florida issues, not federal issues, that local law enforcement should focus on "criminal cases, not civil violations of federal code."

Bennett's proposed bill would: "providing legislative intent; prohibiting the state or its political subdivisions from limiting or restricting the enforcement of immigration laws; requiring a law enforcement officer to request citizenship information under certain circumstances."

"The constitution mandates [the federal government] to regulate our border," Kirschner said in an interview with Sarasota Patch. "We have enough challenges and difficulties on our plate. "

Kirschner also said it is an issue that can negatively affect families and hurt the economy. He's been calling the immigration bill "populace politics".

He said Florida is heavily reliant in migrant labor for tourism, hospitality and construction. Passing the immigration bill, he said, will hurt the economy two fold; hurt job production and hurt tourism with the Latin community potentially boycotting vacationing here. 

Three times before this evenings meeting, Kirschner has brought up the issue to stand up against the immigration bill in a public setting. 

At the Jan. 18 City Commission meeting, Kirschner grilled Sarasota's state rep, Republican Ray Pilon on the issue, who at the time was also sponsoring a similar bill. Pilon was there to discuss legislative priorities for Sarasota.

Kirschner told Pilon the bill was an unnecessary, unfunded mandate for local law enforcement. Pilon responded, as he did all night, by saying "Immigration is first and foremost a federal responsibility," he said. "They have failed to address the problem that has caused states to make a statement."

Kirschner also spoke at the Manasota League of Cities meeting and special joint meeting with Sarasota County Officials and Sarasota County municipalities two weeks ago.

He asked for others to join him. "[I] encourage all of you to agenda [the Florida Compact] and ratify that. [We] don’t need to attract this negative publicity to our state."

"Historically our community really depends on migrant labor," Kirschner told Sarasota Patch. "Lets not by hypocritical about it. Any builder four years ago, but not for migrant labor may not have been able to grow. [The bill] is not prudent when you actually look at the long-term unintended consequences."

City Commission has two sessions today beginning at 2:30pm at City Hall. The evening session begins as 6pm. The immigration discussion is the late item on the agenda.