Brevard County commissioners ask Florida attorney general to join lawsuit challenging DACA

Some county commissioners say they know it was just a symbolic vote that had little-to-no clout.

Yet all five voted in favor of a resolution, sponsored by Commissioner John Tobia, asking Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to join a lawsuit challenging the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, commonly known as DACA.

The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which was implemented in 2012 during then-President Barack Obama's administration, allowed young immigrants living in this country illegally who were brought here as children to remain in the United States.

Texas — joined by six other states — has filed suit to challenge the lawfulness of the executive action creating DACA. Tobia's resolution asks that Florida also join that suit.

The Trump administration has tried to rescind DACA, but courts have blocked that effort.

More:Hundreds in Brevard protest Trump's 'zero tolerance' immigration policy

More:Immigration supporters demonstrate outside U.S. Rep. Bill Posey's office in Viera

Tobia's resolution contends that "DACA injures the various states by requiring expenditures, including, but not limited to, state troopers, Social Security, disability benefits, Medicare, Medicaid, work authorization, unemployment benefits and drivers' licenses. It is in the interest of the citizens of the state of Florida, including those located within Brevard County, that the state be a party to the case, in order to inform the court of the injurious nature DACA has relative to our interests, and to ensure that the federal government is acting to protect its citizens and sovereignty."

"I'll support this," County Commission Vice Chair Kristine Isnardi said. "However, I don't know how much impact it's going to have with the Attorney General's Office." 

Commissioner Jim Barfield said he has "a problem when we step outside of our lanes. We have a lot more things we have to be dealing with."

Barfield also had qualms about the timing of the resolution, since it is an election season, and the state will have a new governor, because Gov. Rick Scott is subject to term limits this year and instead is running for the U.S. Senate seat now held by Bill Nelson. Florida also may have a new U.S. senator and new state legislators representing Brevard after the election.

"I just don't know that this is the right time or place to do this," Barfield said.

But Tobia, in his resolution, said, with the Florida Legislature now out of session, "it is important that local governments voice their concerns directly to state officials on matters important to them."

County Commission Chair Rita Pritchett also appeared reluctant in her vote in favor of Tobia's resolution.

"I guess this doesn't hurt one way or the other," Pritchett also "It's just tough. We're just in a tough day. We've got to fix this. But it is hard looking at children that have lived here their whole life, and figuring out what to do with them, too. So, it's a hard situation. Our president sure has his hands full these days with these types of items he's trying to work through."

The fifth commission, Curt Smith, joined the others in voting in favor of Tobia's resolution, but did not comment during County Commission discussion of the item.

When asked about his support for the resolution in a subsequent interview on the FLORIDA TODAY "Eye on Brevard" show, Smith said: "It's easier to just vote for it because … it means nothing."

"I don't have a dog in the hunt," Smith said. "I can't influence it one way or the other. Why not vote for it? Why vote against it? It means nothing."

Smith said DACA is an issue for the president and Congress.

Isnardi indicated the Republicans and Democrats alike have been unable to solve issues related to immigration.

"How long are we going to be fighting over immigration before something is done?" Isnardi asked. "And it doesn't matter who's in power. Both parties have failed."

Commissioners voted to send the resolution to Bondi and to the six members of the Brevard County delegation to the Florida Legislature.

Tobia said after the meeting that he was "stunned" that the County Commission "was unanimous in making this decision. It turns out, some of our liberal commissioners become conservatives when elections are right around the corner."

No members of the public addressed the issue before the July 10 County Commission vote.

But, during a May 22 County Commission meeting, Sanjay Patel of Satellite Beach spoke against Tobia's proposal.

"In addition to being un-American," Patel said, Tobia's agenda item "detracts from this commission's ability to focus on the important issues in our county that are your job, like our county services, our roads and our lagoon."

Patel is a Democratic candidate for Congress in House District 8, where Republican Bill Posey is the incumbent.

Patel contended that the United States would not lose money by allowing these people to stay in this country.

"They contribute $2 billion a year in taxes," Patel said. "They're ineligible for American social programs, including cash assistance, food stamps and Medicaid. And their incarceration rate is less than 1 percent — lower than those that are born here in this country."

In his comments, Patel also discussed his family's emigration to the United States from India when he was 1 year old.

"My parents didn't have any money, they didn't know the language, and they actually didn't have the right papers to remain in this country," Patel said. "It was President Reagan that gave our family a pathway to citizenship, and I am beyond grateful to be an American. Because of my story, I identify deeply with the 'dreamers.' "

The United States is "the destination of dreamers, the land of opportunity, the world's melting pot," Patel said. "Anything that this commission does to threaten dreamers, our most vulnerable immigrants who came to this country as children without their knowledge or their consent, sends a message to the world and to all of us that we've drifted from our fundamental American values and from our proud history as a nation of immigrants."

Patel announces endorsements

Sanjay Patel, the Democratic candidate for Congress in House District 8, has announced a series of endorsements.

They include endorsements from the AFL-CIO, the Brevard Federation of Teachers, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Moms Demand Action, Our Revolution and the Space Coast Labor Council. 

Other endorsements came from various Democratic caucuses and organizations — no surprise on these, since he is the only Democrat in the race.

Patel is challenging five-term incumbent U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, in the Nov. 6 election.

Ex-Senate president backs Sirois

Former Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos is endorsing fellow Republican Tyler Sirois for the District 51 seat in the Florida House of Representatives.  

Sirois is the executive director of the State Attorney's Office for the 18th Judicial Circuit. He is running against Cocoa Mayor Henry Parrish III in a Republican primary on Aug. 28. The winner will face Democrat Mike Blake, the former mayor of Cocoa, in the Nov. 6 general election.

Florida House District 51 includes all or part of Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Cocoa Beach, Merritt Island and Rockledge.  

The seat currently is held by Tom Goodson, who cannot seek re-election because of term limits.

Haridopolos represented Brevard County in the Florida House and the Florida Senate, presiding as Senate president from 2010 to 2012.

“Tyler is a trusted friend and solid conservative who will effectively advocate for Brevard County families and business owners," Haridopolos said in a statement. "Brevard needs strong voices in our state Capitol. Tyler will provide that voice for us to push for lower taxes, safe schools, cleaning up our lagoon and standing up for our Second Amendment rights. I am proud to support Tyler Sirois for the Florida House.”

Sirois also recently received the endorsement of the Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police.

Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY. 

His Political Spin column appears Sundays in FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649

or dberman@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @bydaveberman

Facebook: /dave.berman.54

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