Immigrant-rights groups are up in arms after a retired U.S. Navy chief Geoff Ross filed a complaint with Immigration and Customs Enforcement alleging that GOP state Sens. Anitere Flores and J.D. Alexander “engaged in dialogue” with “suspected illegal aliens” — actually, immigrant activists — and did not report them to authorities.
“„Yesterday, groups representing the We are Florida campaign received notification of a recent letter/complaint to the immigration authorities by Geoff Ross, President of the Emerald Coast Tea Party Patriots, asking Homeland Security to open an investigation on Sen. Anitere Flores and Sen. Alexander for not reporting Floridians visiting their offices at the State Captiol during a week of action against Arizona-like immigration laws. The complaint argues they are “suspected illegal immigrants”. #
“„We see the letter from this gentleman as a threat to the constitutional rights of those gathered in Tallahassee and as a clear indication of the culture of xenophobia and racism that is spreading Arizona copycat legislation slated to destroy Florida’s economy and social progress. #
“„It is important to affirm that elected representatives have no legal authority to question the immigration status of constituents visiting theiroffices, nor do they have any legal authority to disclose any information shared in testimony by their constituents without their formal approval and consent. #
“„Subject: HOMELAND SECURITY PREPARES POTENTIAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST FLORIDA STATE SENATORS FOR FAILING TO REPORT SUSPECTED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE STATE CAPITAL#