St. Rep. William Snyder still wants immigration law for Florida

State Representative William Snyder says he still plans to push for an immigration law in Florida, despite what's happening to a similar measure in Arizona.

Snyder first proposed the plan last month.

He is drafting legislation similar to Arizona's immigration law.  It would allow police to question the status of people they stop if officers suspect that person is in the country illegally.

Snyder's law would make it a misdemeanor to be an illegal immigrant in Florida.

A watered-down version of the Arizona immigration law went into effect Thursday.  A judge earlier in the week blocked some of the controversial parts of the bill, including the section allowing officers when they stop people for an infraction to question that  person's immigration status.

Snyder says he doesn't expect the ruling to affect his legislation.

"We'll watch what they say," says Snyder.  "It may have a bearing on how we craft our language but the basic thrust of what we're trying to do here in Florida has not changed whatsoever by what this federal judge does or what the appellate courts in California do."

Any Florida law would likely face legal challenges.

Courtenay Strickland, Director of Public Policy for the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, guarantees it.

"We'll be prepared to fight this battle because really this is about core American values of fairness and equity," says Strickland.  "It is a low point in modern America when state law gives police this sort of unprecedented power. This is not what our country is all about."