State House members on Wednesday moved forward with measures aimed at cracking down on cities and counties that provide “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants and they want to increase penalties for people who defy deportation orders.

As reported by The News Service of Florida, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee voted 9-4 to back HB 675 sponsored by Larry Metz (R-Yalaha) that in part would define and prohibit sanctuary communities.

Later on in the day the House Justice Appropriations Subcommittee voted 8-3 to support HB 9 sponsored by Carlos Trujillo (R-Miami) that would make it a felony for people who defy deportation orders.

Metz said he is not trying to target anyone. He simply wants to uphold immigration laws that the federal government is failing to carry out.

He said:

This bill would basically say, as a matter of policy in the state of Florida, that we’re not going to tolerate state or local governmental agencies from refusing to cooperate with the enforcement of existing federal immigration law, and just recognizing, in a footnote to that, the enforcement of existing federal immigration law is very limited under the current administration as it is right now, just targeting mainly those with criminal backgrounds or who are already subject to deportation orders.

Pro immigration groups were not happy with the bills moving forward. They feel anti-immigration policies attack all brown and black families.

Zoe Colon of the Hispanic Coalition in Orlando said:

Anti-immigration policies such as this one attack all brown and black families. They separate families, they promote hate and racial profiling, and they attack a significant part of our workforce and economy.

The Senate versions of these bills have yet to be scheduled for committee hearings.