Avon Park and Palm Bay are among cities and states across the country attempting to pass laws targeting illegal immigration. Such measures also have been proposed in the California cities of San Bernardino and Escondido. Colorado and Georgia have passed laws targeting companies that employ undocumented workers and requiring proof of legal residency to obtain government services.

Palm Bay has given preliminary approval to a proposal that would penalize companies that hire undocumented workers. The ordinance, which the City Council is set to take up again on Aug. 17, would require fines and the suspension of business permits for companies that violate it. A similar proposal in Avon Park failed last month but may be brought up again.

ABOUT AVON PARK

• Schools: The town has no failing schools, though one high school received a ''D'' grade this year.

• Crime: The city's crime rate rose 16 percent last year, but that came after drops of 30 percent in 2003 and 15 percent in 2004. State crime statistics are not broken down by race or ethnicity.

• Unemployment rate: 2.7 percent unemployment rate in Highlands County.