Immigration Bill, Sans E-Verify for Business, Passes Senate

A stripped-down immigration bill sailed through the Florida Senate Wednesday with no debate on the issue. The vote came down 23-16, with Republican members of the Hispanic caucus taking a position against the bill.

The bill was discussed at length in the Senate Tuesday, as an amendment that would have imposed penalties on businesses that were found to have employed undocumented workers without using the federal E-Verify system failed to make it onto the bill.

The Senate bill backs up Gov. Rick Scott's executive order requiring state agencies to use E-Verify, requires employment centers and agencies that issue federal or state benefits to use E-Verify, and calls on local law enforcement agencies to investigate the legal status of those who are arrested.

Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, the sponsor of a more stringent immigration bill in the House, said his chamber is unlikely to take up the bill in the legislative session's final days without harsher penalties for private businesses that don't use E-Verify.