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Florida bill would allow military force to keep out refugees

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Florida’s governor would be able to use military force to keep out immigrants or refugees from certain parts of the world under a bill passed by a House committee on Wednesday.

The “Prevention of Acts of War” bill would let the governor designate so-called restricted people — those he determines are from countries where “invaders” live or train in preparation for an attack in the United States. That includes people coming to the United States from areas near those countries.

The bill — which faces a number of hurdles, including little demonstrated interest from the Senate — would prohibit any state or local government employee or any person receiving state assistance of any kind, including Medicare, from helping certain immigrants or refugees entering or resettling in Florida unless the immigrants were born in the Western Hemisphere.

Anyone assisting a restricted person would have to turn that person’s personal information over to the state. The state would be allowed to monitor restricted people. The bill faces two more committees before it can make it to the House floor for a vote. A similar Senate bill hasn’t been scheduled for its first of three committee hearings, a sign that its prospects are dim.

Under the measure, Gov. Rick Scott or Attorney General Pam Bondi could take legal action to prevent the federal government from resettling a restricted person in the state. Scott also would be authorized to use all powers, “including police powers, emergency powers, and military force,” to keep restricted people out of Florida.

It would also require that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement do a background check on every restricted person in Florida.

Republican Rep. Lake Ray of Jacksonville said his bill is responding to the threat of the Islamic State group and attacks in Paris and elsewhere. He said terrorists are falsifying passports and trying to send invaders to the United States. He said Florida has a duty to protect its citizens and economy.

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