Miami Immigrants Protest Arizona-Style Laws

As Florida lawmakers considered several Arizona-style immigration bills, protesters took to the streets Monday in Miami, a local television station reported. Dozens rallied through the streets of Little Havana, an immigrant enclave, protesting the handful of bills proposed during the state’s legislative session. The protesters took aim at one bill filed by state Sen. Anitere Flores, a Cuban-American representing southwest Miami-Dade County, NBC Miami reported.

The legislation would require local police to question the immigration status of any person arrested and mandate all businesses to verify the legal status of all their employees through the federal E-Verify system.

Protesters questioned why a lawmaker from a district dominated by immigrants filed such legislation.

"I want to clarify that there are various different immigration proposals in the legislature right now,” Flores said. “The Senate's current position is very different from any Arizona type laws. Some people want to strike fear, but I reiterate that I would never support legislation that would criminalize our nation's immigrants."