Members of what has been deemed a hate group claim that they worked with Sarasota state Sen. Joe Gruters to craft an immigration enforcement legislation bill.
The Southern Poverty Law Center has the Federation for American Immigration Reform designated as a hate group.
This week, the Herald-Tribune reports David Jaroslav, the Federation’s state and local legislative manager for FAIR, worked to offer advice for Gruters’ staff on how to the defend the sanctuary bill against critics.
Gruters admits to meeting with the group, but claims he had no idea about the group’s designation and that they had no input on the bill’s language.