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Bill Blocking Some Refugees Clears Second Committee

February 16th, 2016 by flanews

Continuing threats to the country from ISIS and other terror groups has some lawmakers scrambling to deal with incoming refugees from war-torn Syria. As Matt Galka tells us, one bill could block some people looking to relocate to Florida.

There was plenty of outcry from groups opposed to a House bill targeting Syrian refugees. Many said the same thing: it’s profiling.

Jacksonville Republican Lake Ray sponsors legislation allowing the Governor and Attorney General to block refugees from relocating in Florida if they’re believed to be a threat…or from a country perceived as a threat. He says attacks in Paris and San Bernardino justify the proposal.

“God forbid these kind of attacks happen at Disney world or universal studios,” said Rep. Ray.

Human Rights advocates say if the bill becomes a law, it’s only a matter of time before it ends up in court

“The bill attempts to confer formal authority on the Governor or Attorney General, Mr chair and members of the committee, to be diplomatic, that wont pass constitutional muster,” said Mark Schlakman with the FSU Center for the Advancement of Human Rights.

Laila Abdelaziz with the Council on American Islamic Relations bashed the proposal.

“It’s absolutely discrimination. The bill language includes an amendment that exempts refugees from the Western Hemisphere so it’s very clear what the intent of this bill is,” said Abdelaziz.

But the bill cleared its second House committee 9-3 along party lines.

“The truth of the matter is that there are people in the world who want to kill Americas,” said Rep. Chris Latvala (R-Clearwater) before he voted in favor of it.

The bill requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to screen refugees who come here from outside of the Western Hemisphere. Opponents say FDLE won’t be able to do any better than the three tier federal process refugees already go through.

The bill has yet to be heard by any Senate committees.

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