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RESOLUTION URGING THE FLORIDA LEGISLATURE NOT TO PASS STATE LEGISLATION RELATED TO IMMIGRATION, WHILE SUPPORTING COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL

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WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County has the most diverse population in the State of Florida, and one of the most diverse populations in the U.S.; and
WHEREAS, 65 percent of the residents of Miami-Dade County are Hispanic or Latino; and
WHEREAS, of the non-Hispanic population, 17 percent are White and 17 percent are African American or Black with a significant part being of Caribbean descent; and
WHEREAS, approximately one-half of the people living in Miami-Dade County were born in another country, with the most common countries of origin being Cuba, Nicaragua, Colombia, Haiti, Venezuela, Dominican Republic and Jamaica; and
WHEREAS, among people at least five years old living in Miami-Dade County in 2010, 71 percent spoke a language other than English at home, with 88 percent speaking Spanish and 12 percent speaking some other language; and
WHEREAS, the issue of immigration is an important one to the residents of Miami-Dade County, and protecting the people of Miami-Dade County from unnecessary and unwarranted requests for immigration documents is of paramount importance; and
WHEREAS, during its 2010 session, the Arizona Legislature passed an immigration bill, Senate Bill 1070 as amended by HB 2162 (�SB 1070�); and
WHEREAS, while the final version of SB 1070 did include language prohibiting racial profiling, it nonetheless requires immigrants to carry with them documents verifying their immigration status and also requires police officers to determine immigration status during any lawful stop, detention or arrest if there is reasonable suspicion that the person is in the country illegally; and
WHEREAS, one report estimated that Arizona�s passage of SB 1070 triggered financial implications that included the loss of $217 million in direct spending by convention attendees and tourists, along with an additional $535.4 million in lost tax revenues, economic output and earnings; and
WHEREAS, a federal judge in Arizona eventually blocked the most controversial parts of SB 1070 from taking effect, including provisions of the law that required immigrants to carry alien registration documentation with them; and
WHEREAS, during the 2011 session, the Florida Legislature considered Senate and House bills related to immigration; and
WHEREAS, the Senate�s bill, SB 2040, would have required immigration checks of inmates and also would have required employers to use the federal e-verify system to verify employees immigration status; and
WHEREAS, the House�s bill, HB 7189, would have provided for immigration checks when a person is under a criminal investigation and there is reasonable suspicion that the person is an illegal immigrant; and
WHEREAS, a diverse group of business associations, faith-based groups, labor and civil rights organizations and immigrant groups opposed the Florida Legislature passing immigration legislation; and
WHEREAS, after contentious debate on the Senate floor, no immigration bill passed the Florida Legislature during the 2011 session; and
WHEREAS, Governor Rick Scott has expressed his support for state legislation addressing illegal immigration during the 2012 session, and some members of the Florida Legislature have indicated their intention to file illegal immigration bills for consideration during the 2012 session; and
WHEREAS, passage of an immigration bill in Florida could lead to racial profiling and could adversely impact Florida�s economy; and
WHEREAS, a Florida immigration law may deter international tourists from traveling to Florida, hurting a key sector of the Florida economy, and Miami-Dade County�s economy in particular; and
WHEREAS, the e-verify aspects of the immigration bills considered during the 2011 session would place additional burdens on Florida businesses to determine immigration status; and
WHEREAS, immigration is a federal responsibility that should be left in the hands of the federal government to address,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Urges the Florida Legislature not to pass state legislation related to immigration, while supporting comprehensive immigration reform by the federal government that includes better securing the national borders.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to transmit certified copies of this resolution to the Miami-Dade Congressional Delegation, the Governor, Senate President, House Speaker, and the Chair and Members of the Miami-Dade State Legislative Delegation.
Section 3. Directs the County�s state lobbyists to advocate against passage of the state legislation identified in Section 1 above, and directs the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to include this item in the 2012 Federal and State Legislative Packages.