When state Sen. Alan Hays suggested that the creation of "Hispanic districts" be predicated on legal citizenship, not illegal residency, everyone ran for cover.
Well, almost everyone.
Two Latino Democrats stood and lashed back with all the politically correct firepower they could muster.
Rep. Janet Cruz, D-Tampa, blasted Hays' "hateful and mean-spirited attitude," which she alleged "is part of a broader trend that we are seeing among Republican leadership, including presidential candidates that are anti-Hispanic."
He is calling on a witch hunt before a Hispanic district can be realistically considered," Cruz said in a statement.
Rep. Luis Garcia, D-Miami, wrote to Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon to demand an apology.
He said Hays' comment was "not only offensive, but serves no purpose in the contentious and challenging process of reapportionment."
But, really, what does Hays have to apologize for? Exposing an inconvenient truth?
Demographers say that 10 percent or more of the largest Latino enclaves in this state and nation are composed of illegal aliens. Some areas are as high as 25 percent.
Florida's illegal population is conservatively estimated at 900,000, almost entirely Hispanic. In aggregate, that's roughly enough to qualify for a congressional seat.
The Census Bureau -- which counts residents, but does not verify citizenship -- provides the raw head counts. Yet it is citizenship that determines the right to vote.
And that was the explosive distinction Hays tried to draw at a redistricting meeting this week.
I think we need to direct the staff, and we ourselves need to consider very, very cautiously before we design a district anywhere in the state of Florida for Hispanic voters, we need to ascertain that they are citizens of the United States.
"We all know there are many Hispanic-speaking people in Florida that are not legal, and I dont think its right that we try to draw a district that encompasses people who really have no business voting anyhow," said Hays, R-Umatilla.
Hispanic activist groups, aided by their Democratic Party allies, say residency -- not citizenship -- must dictate how districts are designed. Not coincidentally, that rule maximizes the electoral clout of these groups.
Obviously, the law must be followed. Hays proposed no concrete plan to do otherwise. Yet the senator made an important point when he said:
"If we know that registered voters are people who have proven their citizenship, then thats a completely different story, but I am not aware of any proof of citizenship necessary before you register to vote."
That kind of talk makes our elected leaders uncomfortable. Hence their run for cover. Neither Haridopolos nor Cannon responded to Sunshine State News' request for comment. Hays also was not available.
Fact is, Hays has had a target on his back ever since he authored an E-Verify immigration bill last session.
Of course, Hays' employment-verification bill and others like it went nowhere. Such is the power of the Hispanic lobby, when joined by corporate and agricultural interests focused in cheap labor.
With federal guidelines requiring states to protect the rights of minorities, race is always going to be part of the redistricting process. Hays' comments and the ensuing Hispanic eruption illustrate how complicated the balancing act is, and how illegal immigration is intertwined.
Looking on anxiously are Florida's African-Americans, who want to protect their own legislative and congressional seats.
"To not want to ascertain where illegal aliens reside is ludicrous. Special attention should be paid to Hialeah and the whole southeast part of the state, as well as the Orlando area," said George Fuller, an immigration-control activist from South Florida.
Henry Kelley, head of the Fort Walton Beach Tea Party, said, "Counting of all residents, includingillegal aliens, isrequired under law for the Census, and Florida actually gains seats by including them.
"Under the current system, where we are bribed with our own money, the state gets more tax dollars for each person, be it citizen, documented or undocumented immigrant."
Which brings the redistricting blowup back to the unsettled and unending immigration debate.
"What I hope is that our Legislature takes action regarding this problem in the absence of any action from D.C.," Kelley said. "Undocumented workers benefit tremendously from our schools and medical system at taxpayer expensewithout paying into the system in the first place."
Reach Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 559-4719.
