8 AUG 2023
Florida Elected Leaders Urge President Biden to Urgently Deliver Legal Protections for America’s Immigrant Families and Workers Threatened by Extreme GOP Policies
The leaders write, “these families belong to our communities and contribute greatly to our cultural and economic growth, and yet they have no lawful avenue to gain legal status”
To Read the Full Letter, Click Here.
WASHINGTON — Today, as reported by the Miami Herald, over 30 elected officials from Florida—including Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, Florida Senate Leader Pro Tempore Jason Pizzo, and Florida House Minority Leader Fentrice Driskell– sent a letter to the Biden administration calling for immediate administrative actions that would protect undocumented immigrants, including Dreamers and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders already in the U.S.
In the wake of escalating policy threats to immigrants, including Governor Ron DeSantis’ disastrous anti-immigrant Senate Bill (SB) 1718, that “could ultimately upend their lives and impact the stability of our local communities and economy,” the signees underscored the political and economic urgency for the Biden Administration to fix America’s broken immigration system by ensuring protections and work authorization for Dreamers and long-standing immigrants so they may continue to work and live in the U.S lawfully and without the fear of deportation. The push comes as an April 2023 poll by Global Strategy Group found that a majority of voters support President Biden taking action to make it easier for undocumented immigrants, including DACA recipients to apply for work permits and protection from deportation.
The letter specifically calls the Biden administration to 1) urgently get ahead of the termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program by streamlining existing legal processes for Dreamers and long-standing immigrant residents so they may gain legal status and work permits, 2) leverage the DHS Secretary’s parole and deferred action authorities to reduce family reunification backlogs and enable eligible undocumented immigrants to gain legal status through their family members - without being subjected to years-long delays, and 3) extend and expand TPS designations and redesignations for nationals in the U.S. who can’t safely return to Venezuela, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras.
The letter’s signatories urge President Biden to surpass partisan gridlock in Congress and address the needs of long-settled immigrant families, including Dreamers. As extremist, xenophobic rhetoric becomes a cornerstone of the GOP playbook, driving increased fears among undocumented immigrants and their loved ones, the letter implores President Biden to enact real solutions that will strengthen communities in the Sunshine State.
Led by twelve Florida state representatives, seven Florida state senators, and other elected officials across the state, the letter states:
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“In the absence of congressional action to deliver immigration reform legislation, hundreds of thousands of immigrant families, including Dreamers and essential undocumented workers who have contributed for years to our local communities and economy, continue to live with the fear of deportation. These families belong to our communities and contribute greatly to our cultural and economic growth, and yet they have no lawful avenue to gain legal status.”
“We urge you to take executive action within your authority to provide these families with access to legal protections that will allow them to remain with their family members, including their U.S. citizen children and loved ones. The threats to immigrant families continue to grow as extremist politicians propose policies that could ultimately upend their lives and impact the stability of our local communities and economy.”
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“In your 2023 State of the Union address, you rightly promised to proceed in a balanced fashion – to both secure our border and to humanely address the immigrant families who are already settled in America. We agree with you that legislation is the best way to fashion permanent solutions. However, extreme partisanship has stalled congressional action, leaving millions of Dreamers, essential undocumented workers, and immigrant families without a way to gain lawful status despite their immense contributions. Mr. President, please use every tool at your disposal to make our immigration system better.”
“We write from a state where immigrant workers and families are vital members of our communities. We live, work, pray and play with those who have come to America to build a better life for their families. We urge you to use your authority to make life better in our states by extending and expanding protections for our friends and neighbors.”
Signatories:
Daniella Levine Cava, Mayor of Miami-Dade County
Anna Hochkammer, Vice Mayor of Pinecrest
Nan Rich, Vice Mayor of Broward County
Karlene Maxwell-Williams, Vice Mayor of Lauderdale Lakes
Lori Berman, State Senator for District 26
Lauren Book, State Senator for District 35
Shevrin Jones, State Senator for District 35
Rosalind Osgood, State Senator for District 32
Jason Pizzo, State Senator for District 38
Geraldine F Thompson, State Senator for District 15
Victor Torres, State Senator for District 25
Fentrice Driskell, House Democratic Leader, State Rep. for House District 67
Kevin Chambliss, State Rep. for House District 117
Lindsay Cross, State Rep. for House District 60
Anna V. Eskamani, State Rep. for House District 42
Ashley Gantt, State Rep. for House District 109
Michele Rayner-Goolsby, State Rep. for House District 62
Rita Harris, State Rep. for House District 44
Dotie Joseph, State Rep. for District 108
Johanna Lopez, State Rep. for House District 43
Angie Nixon, State Rep. for House District 13
Susan L. Valdés, State Rep. for House District 64
Marie Woodson, State Rep. for House District 195
Marleine Bastien, Commissioner for Miami-Dade County
Nancy Metayer Bowen, Commissioner for Coral Springs
Sabina Covo, Commissioner for City of Miami
Jacqueline “Jack” Porter, Commissioner (at-large) for Tallahassee City
Jeremy Matlow, Commissioner for Tallahassee City
Richie Floyd, St. Pete City Council Member for District 8
Vanessa Joseph, Elected City Clerk for North Miami
Lucia Baez-Geller, Miami-Dade County School Board Member for District 3
Sarah Leonardi, Broward School Board Member for District 3
Luisa Santos, Miami-Dade County School Board Member for District 9
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