Mr. President. it is important to keep in mind that this amendmeftt is a temporary measure. It recognizes that. in the future. we will have a permanent facility to accommodate immigrants. All this amendment says is that. until that facility is completed. we ought to assure that those who are being held. and the communities in which they are being held. are not subject to health and safety hazards. Florida is already doing more than its fair share. and will continue to do so under this amendment. until that new facility is completed. It is only appropriate that we make sure that Florida is protected during the weeks and months ahead. while the new facility is under construction. As far as I am concerned. there is another issue. one of fairness. involved in this matter. We all recognize that authority over immigration is delegated to the Federal Government under the Constitution. We all recognize that we have an immigration problem in America today. But what we all must recognize is that that problem is centered in only a few States. like Florida. and those States are helpless to do anything in the absence of Federal action. There ought to be fairness involved in the burden the Federal Government asks each State to bear. In many instances. the Federal Government has been fair to States. We think that our State should be treated fairly. too. Recently. the Federal Government and the Governor of Puetro Rico entered into an agreement to open a holding center for Haitian immigrants at Fort Allen. Puerto Rico. But the Federal Government agreed to place a cap on the total number of immigrants at Fort Allen. That cap800 personsassures that those being detained will have humane conditions. and hardship and disruption to the government and people of Puerto Rico will be minimized. The Federal Government ought to enter into a similar agreement with the State of Florida. and that is precisely what our amendment does.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants