TALLAHASSEE – Today, the Florida House used its supermajority muscle to adopt and pass SB 1718 on the House floor. With that vote, this discriminatory and potentially unconstitutional legislation whose sole purpose is to strike fear into Florida’s immigrant communities has now passed both chambers and will be going to the governor for a signature.

This legislation:

• Requires employers with over 25 employees to use E-verify to determine employment eligibility, making it a felony to use false identification to obtain eligibility and allowing for license revocation or considerable fines if an employer violates the E-verify requirements four times in a 24-month period, limiting access to jobs for people who have unregulated immigration statuses.
• Forces hospitals that accept Medicaid and emergency departments to collect data on the immigration status of patients including when visiting the emergency room, and to regularly report on the cost of care provided to patients without a regulated immigration status to AHCA and the legislature.
• Makes transporting people who are without a regulated immigration status into the state of Florida a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison. This includes charging you with a felony for coming back into the state of Florida when you live here permanently. It also includes coming into the state for tourism or business meetings with friends, co-workers, or family without a regulated immigration status.
• Prohibits funding for community ID programs at the city and county levels.
• Invalidates driver's licenses legally issued by 16 states and the District of Columbia to drivers without a regulated immigration status. 
• Establishes that the Chief of Domestic Security will coordinate immigration enforcement actions in Florida. 
• Repeals the law allowing lawyers who are still regulating their immigration status from practicing law. 
• Requires law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples from people who do not possess a regulated immigration status and are detained under a federal detainer request. 

In response to the passing of this legislation in the Senate, Florida Immigrant Coalition Executive Director Tessa Petit said,

“Throughout this legislative session, the legislators in the majority have sought to use our communities as political scapegoats in their relentless quest to advance party-line political ambitions. This legislation seeks to create a false border between Florida and the rest of the United States. It is meant to criminalize folks still going through the complicated immigration process and their families, and friends for visiting the state.  It will limit access to our renowned healthcare providers for those seeking lifesaving cancer or cardiovascular care. Its only purpose and result will be to increase the intentional divide in our communities. It is not meant to provide the protection they claim, and will not provide a solution to the broken federal immigration system. The border crisis is fear-mongering propaganda being used as an excuse to increase government overreach. Instead of addressing the pressing issues of us Floridians, the supermajority legislators are trying to change Florida from one that is welcoming, that believes in lifting up those in need of support, into a hateful segregated state. We say that no amount of hateful and discriminatory rhetoric from this legislature can break our resolve to continue to advocate and fight for a future where all who call our state home can live without fear and with the security of knowing they are loved and accepted.”

Renata Bozzetto, Deputy Director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition, said,

“It’s negligent that a bill with so many problems and with an incredible potential for harm was fast-tracked and all amendments rejected. It’s also sad and very telling that during the only one House committee hearing, everyone who came to testify from all corners of our state, testified against it and the bill still passed along party lines. This is not a red or blue issue, this is a human issue. Floridians of all stripes showed their contempt for this bill and still, we were all ignored. We will continue to fight for our diverse communities and to live the values of the true Florida way: being welcoming, neighborly, and supportive of all who call Florida home.”

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APOPKA - On Friday, non-partisan organizations who do voter registration work in our diverse communities comE together to denounce a voter disenfranchisement bill that targets the work that we do specifically. PCB SAC 23-01 & SB7050 was already heard and passed in the House State Affairs Committee and it has also passed two Senate Committees.

These bills dramatically increase fines and put in place harsher deadlines for these community organizations, making it even harder and more intimidating for them to continue supporting voters. The fines will be crippling to many of our organizations who do the hard work of registering communities that are often left behind.

The fines coupled with shorter deadlines will especially impact smaller organizations that are often closest to marginalized communities. This is deliberately designed to attack and erase our voter registration efforts and thus have fewer people of color registered to participate in our democracy. 

1 out of every 10 Black voters and 1 out of every 10 Latino voters are registered by third-party voter registration organizations, as well as 2 out of every 100 white voters. These organizations are essential for engaging Black and brown communities in the democratic process and play a vital role in registering voters of all political stripes. 

Ricardo J. Negron-Almodovar, FL Senior Campaign Manager at All Voting is Local Action,

“The state is looking to target people registering voters out in the community. This proposed law will severely hinder community organizations’ ability to provide services in areas that lack resources and it will result in more Floridians not being registered to vote.”

Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Executive Director of the Hope CommUnity Center,

“When we register people to vote we do it in Spanish, and Portuguese, and Haitian Creole. We do it that way because when people speak your language you feel a deeper connection with them. This bill attacks organizations like Hope. When people who have the right to work knock on our door and tell us their stories, we’re more likely to come out an vote. While we are being attacked we are showing unity and showing what democracy really looks like. This is what Florida looks like.”

Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, General Coordinator Farmworker Association of Florida,

“Those who cannot vote because they are not yet citizens are so inspired by are so inspired by the exercise of democracy that it’s frustrating to see those who have that right not exercise it. I know, I was one of those people who was so inspired I tried to get my friends who were citizens out to vote. Organizations that do this work do it for communities that are already marginalized and disenfranchised.”

Pedmarlin Occellus, Central Florida Organizer for the Florida Immigrant Coalition,

“As the majority legislators are doing everything in their power to erase our history, attack our families, and make it more expensive to live here, this bill comes as another attack on our liberties and freedoms. I am an immigrant from Haiti, I am also a US Citizen. Those two things can be true at the same time. I was a green card holder for 10 years before I became a citizen because let me tell you something, there is no "line", it is extremely difficult to regulate your status and while you are here as a DACA recipient or a green card holder, fighting for your American Dream, you need to work! You need to put food on the table. And let me tell you something else, only documented immigrants with legally issued work permit can do this work. It is already the law. This bill will make it so that green card holders can't do this work. And I'll ask you one thing: "How many US Citizens can register Creole-speaking US citizens in a culturally competent way?" (said in creole). Most of you didn't even understand that I just asked, which illustrates the answer to my question. Haitians in our state, who can legally vote, will feel more comfortable registering with other Haitians who can reach out in Creole. And we all know that mainstream voter outreach programs are not knocking on doors in the Haitian neighborhoods of Texas Avenue and Oakridge. Fewer Haitians registering means fewer Haitian voters. That is what this bill wants!"

Tosh Pyakuryal, from Florida Student Power said,

“This bill will place unreasonable restrictions on the interactions of our organizations with our communities and is part of an concerted effort to suppress voters.”

Johana Florez, Voter Registration Manager with Alianza Center,

“I am a Colombian immigrant and the Voting Registration Manager with Alianza Center. I have a legal work permit and have been doing my job well and with passion for over 6 years. At Alianza we do the job to register Puerto Ricans and other Hispanic voters. We have registered a sizeable number of voters, and in that excersice have uplifted the voices and power of our communities. Hearing about this law hurt my heart. I love my job. And the people we register would have otherwise never done so. Our people don’t usually register with people who don’t speak their language and don’t share in their lived experiences. This bill would bar me and my colleagues from servicing our communities.”

Melissa Marantes Executive Director of the Orlando Center for Justice,

“We need to understand what the law already says: individuals are allowed to work if they are permanent residents or have another status that providest them with a legal work permit. So what are we doing here? We all want fair and just voting and fair and just elections. The rules are already in place.”

Cristal Guzman, from Poder Latinx said,

“We will not be intimidated! The attacks on organizations that do voter registration work in communities of color are not going unnoticed. This is a bad bill that makes it harder for U.S. citizens of color to vote. This bill will negatively impact organizations that do this work like Poder Latinx. This bill attacks the ability of our communities to be civically engaged.”

The non-partisan organizations who do voter registration work in our diverse communities are again hit by a provision in a voter disenfranchisement bill that targets us specifically. PCB SAC 23-01 & SB7050 was heard today in the House State Affairs Committee and will be heard on Thursday at the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee.

These bills dramatically increase fines and put in place harsher deadlines for these community organizations, making it even harder and more intimidating for them to continue supporting voters. The fines will be crippling to many of our organizations who do the hard work of registering communities that are often left behind.

The fines coupled with shorter deadlines will especially impact smaller organizations that are often closest to marginalized communities. This is deliberately designed to attack and erase our voter registration efforts and thus have fewer people of color registered to participate in our democracy. 

The organizations that do intentional outreach into marginalized communities to register voters are non-partisan and do the work with members of those same communities, who have the cultural competencies and language to do that critical work. Who, if not our cultural-competent non-profit organizations, will do the work of going into communities that are systematically forgotten by mainstream voter registration outreach efforts? The answer is no one, and they know that!

In Florida, it is already the law that people who are not employees of the organization cannot do voter registration work. This means that only people that already possess a legally issued and valid work permit are the ones who are already doing this work. They now want to make it so that people who are navigating the complex immigration system and do possess a work permit cannot do this work either.

1 out of every 10 Black voters and 1 out of every 10 Latino voters are registered by third-party voter registration organizations, as well as 2 out of every 100 white voters. These organizations are essential for engaging Black and brown communities in the democratic process and play a vital role in registering voters of all political stripes. 

Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet, Executive Director of the Hope CommUnity Center said,

“Our organizations are doing the hard work of creating a more robust democracy for all Floridians. This targeted attack on our community organizations seeks to undermine one of the most beautiful American traditions- voter registration drives. This law will hurt our already battered democracy in Florida, our collective right to encourage our neighbors to vote, and non-profit organizations. We call on legislators in Tallahassee to focus on real issues in Florida like the rising sea level and affordable housing.”

Ricardo J. Negron-Almodovar, FL Senior Campaign Manager at All Voting is Local Action

“Nonpartisan organizations that register voters provide critical services to often-overlooked communities and ensure they have access to our democratic processes. These proposed changes in law will severely hinder their ability to provide services in areas that lack resources and will result in more Floridians being unable to register to vote before the already limiting statutory deadlines.”

Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, General Coordinator Farmworker Association of Florida

“With widespread voter apathy, getting out the vote is a vital part of our democracy, and the work is so inspiring that immigrants are often some of the most vocal advocates of exercising Anerican Citizens’ right to vote. Attempts to disengage those members of our society from the process hurts our communities, our society, and our nation. They hurt and dampen our democracy.”

Tessa Petit, Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition said,

“Floridians who are immigrants believe in the promise and power of American democracy. That is why they are some of the most ardent supporters of the work that it takes to register their friends and family members who have the privilege of being U.S. citizens to exercise their right to the ballot box. Criminalizing that work is an attack on workers, democracy, and our non-partisan organizations.”

Ana Guevara, of Florida Student Power Network said,

“Since 2018, as an organization we have seen the constant attack at the state legislature towards immigrants, education, our LGBTQ+ community, and much more. This year, we have witnessed an attack on our communities across the state and there has been a massive attack towards our immigrant community and NOW our Democracy. By stopping non-U.S. citizens to work on voter registration, they are oppressing our communities and stopping organizations across Florida from registering the U.S. citizens that make up our communities. This is an attack to our access to Democracy and we will not sit idle as we watch the legislature continue to oppress us.”

Marcos Vilar, Executive Director for Alianza for Progress, said,

“Immigrants who are here legally and have work permits should not be limited from working in our democratic process. This xenophobic measure proposed by lawmakers in Tallahassee targets and discriminates against organizations such as Alianza who are producing tomorrow’s leaders within our communities. We have always had Cubans, Venezuelans and Colombian immigrants work on voter registration along with us in the Puerto Rican Community. This hateful and discriminatory proposal is an attack on Latino people in Florida and pushes hate and division, not unity.”

Images and videos here

Immigrant Neighbor Solidarity Rally in Miami Calls to Fight Back against DeSantis’ Inhumane Anti-Immigrant Legislation

MIAMI – On Wednesday, April 5th, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), in collaboration with Florida Rising and other grassroots organizations, did a day of action in South Florida, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Central Florida, and Hillsborough to fight back against inhumane, anti-immigration policies and practices impacting 4.3 million Floridians. 

Lawmakers in Tallahassee are discussing legislation (HB 1617 / SB 1718) that may destroy what Florida is for 4.3 million refugees and immigrants from around the world – specifically countries throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America. For over half a century, the Sunshine State has thrived as the land of hope, liberty, and possibilities for countless migrants searching for economic opportunity, democracy, and safety. So much so one in five residents in Florida are immigrants, making Florida one of the most densely populated immigrant states, with 57.4% of immigrants identifying as Hispanic or Latino.

Alejandra Rondón, Florida Rising’s Latinx Constituency Manager, says the immigration bills in Tallahassee are “... just another example of the fascism ingrained in DeSantis’ political platform. Immigrants are scapegoats of GOP disdain and lack of empathy for our communities.”

Rondón continues, “If legislators pass HB1617/SB1718, DeSantis and his allies would become the most anti-immigrant elected officials in the last twenty years. Their legislation is aimed at cracking down on undocumented folks and hard-working families, creating an environment of fear and persecution, where an entire population is considered not only a burden for the state but a bunch of criminals who do not deserve any help or benefit from the government.”

Speakers highlighted how these bills which demonize communities and pit Floridians against one another make all of us less safe in the long run.

“The freedom to migrate remains a fundamental human right. This is a country built by immigrants, we hear time and time again. However, our politicians seem to remember it according to the moment and their convenience. That is why today I want to remind you that we live in a State that is sustai2ned thanks to the contribution of many of these people; let us not forget that supermarkets are filled with the efforts of many undocumented immigrants who often work from sun to sun in conditions of slavery in the Florida farms. We are here precisely to show our rejection of the latest measures of our legislators on these anti-immigration bills.,” stated Sonia Moreno with Florida Immigrant Coalition. 

As legislators consider these bills, attendees reminded them that their constituents are watching and are ready to advocate against their unjust actions.

“I am encouraging our elected Florida state legislators to vote “No” on State Senate Bill SB-1718, and on State House Bill SB-1617. When elected officials such as myself take the Oath of Office, and swear to uphold the rights, dignity, well-being and interests of our constituents and their communities, we cannot then turn around and support legislation that divides and invalidates entire sections of our society. This legislation fingers them and singles them out for deportation threats and denial of basic services. This is particularly harmful to our mix-status families, of which we have a very large number of in the Municipality that I preside over. We must think of our joint community and economy in Florida, today and in the future, and how such a racist law will have a negative impact on both,” advised Samson Borgelin,  Mayor of North Lauderdale, Florida.

Images and videos here

SANFORD, FL – On Wednesday, April 5th, Florida Immigrant Coalition (FLIC), in collaboration with Florida Rising and other grassroots organizations, did a day of action in South Florida, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Central Florida, and Hillsborough to fight back against inhumane, anti-immigration policies and practices impacting 4.3 million Floridians. 

Lawmakers in Tallahassee are discussing legislation (HB 1617 / SB 1718) that may destroy what Florida is for 4.3 million refugees and immigrants from around the world – specifically countries throughout the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central and South America. For over half a century, the Sunshine State has thrived as the land of hope, liberty, and possibilities for countless migrants searching for economic opportunity, democracy, and safety. So much so one in five residents in Florida are immigrants, making Florida one of the most densely populated immigrant states, with 57.4% of immigrants identifying as Hispanic or Latino.

"The freedom to migrate remains a fundamental human right. This is a country built by immigrants.  We hear that over and over again. However, our politicians seem to remember it according to the moment and their convenience. That is why today I want to remind you that we live in a State that is sustained thanks to the contribution of  many of that people , let us not forget that supermarkets are filled with the effort of many undocumented people who work around the clock,  most of them in crass exploitation conditions. I am the mother of a 17-year-old girl whose schoolmates are undocumented and we live in an apprehensive way and on top of of each name, each story because they are human beings with the same right as others to achieve their own dreams", said Yohima Aguilar, Florida Rising Member.

Speakers highlighted how these bills which demonize communities and pit Floridians against one another make all of us less safe in the long run.

“The anti-immigrant bill being pushed through the Florida legislature is devastating to our communities. When we impose measures such as not recognizing licenses from other states, among others, we are practically criminalizing thousands of people in our communities simply for existing. La Mesa Boricua de Florida embraces our brothers and sisters and repudiates these measures that contribute nothing to a better quality of life in our state of Florida.,” stated Maria Revelles, co-Director with La Mesa Boricua de Florida.  

As legislators consider these bills, attendees reminded them that their constituents are watching and are ready to advocate against their unjust actions.

David Metellus with the Florida Immigration Coalition says one of the most concerning provisions is that it fines or suspends the licenses of businesses that knowingly hire an immigrant in the country illegally. "A lot of the workers that serve in the agricultural industry, they are undocumented, or they have different immigration statuses, and so when a similar bill was passed in Georgia, it devastated their agricultural industry,” Metellus said.

FLORIDA – Today the Florida Immigrant Coalition is thrilled to launch “The Florida Way!”, a campaign designed to uplift the true values that define Floridians. 

The campaign is a $70,000 effort that will be seen and heard by Floridians across four media markets: Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, and Miami-Dade; on radio, CTV, and social media.

Access website here: https://thefloridaway.org/ 

Access graphic assets here 

Watch CTV spot here

For generations, Florida has been a welcoming home for families, workers, and unaccompanied migrant children in search of a better life. Our churches, mosques, and temples are a beacon of hope for many Floridians, no matter what country they were born in. In the 60s, Operation Pedro Pan brought thousands of unaccompanied Cuban migrant children into our state where our communities welcomed them with open arms. We are good neighbors and we care for those who need our help. That's the Florida Way!

The real Florida Way is about being welcoming, neighborly, and supportive of all who call Florida home.

On the other hand, Governor Ron DeSantis and his legislature are leading the way in turning back the clock on human rights and descending us into a state where residents live in fear of a government that overreaches into every corner of their lives. They are crafting bills to create a state of surveillance and persecution, not just for immigrants who live in Florida, but for U.S. citizens as well. This is a FREEDOM issue. The state is mandating who you can and cannot love, allow into your place of worship, business or home; who you and your family can befriend, and how to interact with your neighbors, friends, and family who are immigrants in our state.

Together, we denounce the hateful and harmful policies that do not reflect the true values of Floridians.

FLORIDA – Today, State Senator Blaise Ingoglia’s anti-immigration bill SB 1718 was heard in its first committee, the Senate Rules Committee. This bill is the thoughtless iteration of the unreasonable and politically driven anti-immigrant package announced by Governor Ron DeSantis on February 23rd. The bill, along with its companion in the House HB 1617, will harm our communities and may criminalize all Floridians, not only those who open their home, business, vehicle or place of worship to a broad category of immigrants. DeSantis and his legislature are leading the way in turning back the clock on human rights and descending us into a truly draconian state where residents live in fear of a government that overreaches into every corner of their lives and divides to conquer. 

The bills will create:

• Mandates the use of the flawed e-verify system, and enhances fines and penalties on Florida businesses that hire working people navigating our complex immigration system up to $10,000 per worker and revocation of all business licenses in the state; additionally authorizes FDLE to conduct random audits of businesses for compliance, opening the floodgates for racial profiling and abuse of power.
• Creates criminal penalties for those welcoming a broad category of immigrants into their homes, businesses, vehicles, or places of worship.  That creates a potential pool of over 700 thousand US Citizens in the state living with an undocumented immigrant. It will also prohibit places of worship from welcoming their followers, and most of all, limit our children’s freedom to have a normal social life.
• Florida will become a highly dangerous state for those visitors from other states who don’t have a regulated immigration status by prohibiting the use of their valid driver's license from their home state 
• It also prohibits  local governments from giving money to non-profits or other community-serving entities to create identification cards for immigrants neighbors who use them to navigate community spaces like running simple errands and identifying themselves at their child’s school
• Authorizes Sheriffs in county jails to take DNA samples when an immigrant is arrested and an ICE detainer is issued
• Mandates that hospitals receiving Medicaid dollars from the state start tracking how much money is spent on caring for our immigrant neighbors in Florida emergency rooms
• It removes the law that allows lawyers who are regulating their immigration status to get a law license in the State of Florida

State Senator Shevrin Jones, a member of the Rules Committee said,

“With this proposal, my colleagues are leading an attack on our neighbors, families, friends, and fellow Floridians. Governor Ron DeSantis and his Republican colleagues continue to show that they are more focused on attacking and vilifying immigrants and Latinos to advance their political agenda than solving the real problems hurting Floridians.” 

David Metellus, Director of Politics and Policy for the Florida Immigrant Coalition was in the chamber where the bill was being discussed and said,

“It is disheartening to see and hear such clear and air-tight arguments against this bill being ignored by Republican Committee Members who ended up voting along party lines. There was no individual thinking or unique perspectives being offered, everyone was speaking as puppets for their puppet-master Governor DeSantis. This is his bill, his proposal, which will endanger the lives of Floridians from the Panhandle to the Florida Keys. These lawmakers stand ready to incarcerate Floridians who welcome friends and neighbors who hold a different immigration status than their own. Not to mention the thousands of Florida families who live in mixed-status households with loved ones who are working on regulating their immigration status, sometimes for more than 10 years to no avail. The legislators who voted yes, as well as Governor DeSantis are ready to label you a human trafficker for living under the same roof as your mother who has been navigating our complex immigration system for years. This is a disgrace and this policy should be roundly rejected by all.”

Renata Bozzetto, Deputy Director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition was in the chamber where the bill was being discussed and said,

“I invite you to reflect on the harm that SB1718 will cause not only by thinking about the 4.5 million immigrants who are making a home in Florida but to every Floridian whose everyday life is touched by people who are still navigating our very complicated immigration system.

Will you endorse with your vote a bill that could place one of your children in jail for giving a ride to a college mate who was born outside the U.S. and is still navigating the immigration system? Will you endorse with your vote, a bill that could place your parents in jail for being cared for by a healthcare aid in your own family home who still doesn’t have a regulated immigration status? This bill will cause harm. I urge you to lead with the Florida way. The Florida way is to welcome, that is why 1 in 4 of us are immigrants. You have the opportunity to do better.”

Tessa Petit, Executive Director for the Florida Immigrant Coalition mentioned,

“Sadly, we are not surprised at the passage of this bill in its first committee hearing. While the bill’s supporters voted mindlessly along party lines, we applaud all the people who summoned the courage to stand in front of a hostile committee to speak truth to power. We are very concerned about the direction that our state is taking, which is one of surveillance and persecution, not just for immigrants who live in Florida, but for citizens as well. This is a FREEDOM issue. This is a government overreach issue. 

This bill has the potential to make felons out of every single Floridian. From the soccer mom taking her children's friends to a game, to the clergy opening his place of worship to the children of God. No one is exempt from this bill.  The state is mandating who you can and cannot love, allow into your place of worship, business, or home; who you and your family can befriend, and how to interact with your neighbors, friends, and family who are immigrants in our state. It is time for Floridians to speak up and question the spineless puppet legislators who are supporting these inhumane and pointless divisive policies destroying our Florida Way!”

Yvette Cruz, Communications Coordinator for the Farmworker Association of Florida was in the chamber where the bill was being discussed and said,

“With the passing of this bill, all of Miami-Dade County will be impacted because the bill will impact all of us who interact with immigrants every day. The county is more than half foreign-born. We all know and love someone who is an immigrant, all the way back to the Peter Panners who came from Cuba and were welcomed when they were children. Also, tourists who have legally issued licenses from other states, while they navigate our complex immigration system, will be impacted to the point that if they come here and have an interaction with law enforcement, they could potentially never go back home.” 

FLORIDA – Yesterday, Governor Ron DeSantis announced an extensive legislative proposal to prevent immigrants’ access to health care, education, and criminalize any Floridian who transports or provides shelter to a broad category of immigrants. By creating harsh penalties for individuals and groups that support migrants and asylum seekers, easing the detention of people seeking safety including families, the elderly and children, requiring universal use of E-Verify, and prohibiting the issuance by local governments of ID cards that help to identify Floridian communities, DeSantis is leading the way in turning back the clock on human rights and descending us into a truly draconian state where residents live in fear of a government who overreaches into every corner of their lives, including their businesses and places of worship.

To see his full proposal, click here. To watch the full press conference, click here. 

Faith and business leaders today speak out against this package of draconian laws because they stand starkly opposed to what these measures would bring to their communities, places of business, and worship.

We encourage faith and business leaders who want to stand with us to sign on to this letter.

Mike Fernandez, Chair of MBF Healthcare Partners and American Business Immigration Coalition Action board member said,

“Construction, agriculture, hospitality, healthcare—we can’t even begin to count how many bread-and-butter work sectors these cruel and extreme measures would disrupt if they are passed. What might make DeSantis look good with the extreme right in a national presidential election bid is just about the most destructive and hurtful thing he could do to his own state.”

Reverend Dr. Gabriel Salguero, President of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition stated,

“Immigrants, those who have regulated their status and those who are still navigating our complex immigration system, have made up the heart and soul of Florida for decades. They are our family members, neighbors, employers, employees, students, teachers, and faith leaders. They are so woven into daily life in this state that we’d unravel if they were blocked, held back, terrorized, and arrested at every turn for simply existing, which is exactly what will result from these policies. This is a cruel set of policies. It is certainly not what the Gospel teaches us about treating immigrants. No policy can stop the Church from being the Church. It’s part of our religious liberty.” 

Sister Ann Kendrick,  SNDdeN Co-Founder of Hope CommUnIty Center(HCC), Apopka, FL commented,

“HCC strongly opposes the attitude and method the Governor of Florida is taking to continue to terrorize migrant families in the State of Florida. Human Beings have a right to migrate to flee death, in search of conditions where they can find safe places to work, raise their families and be protected from violence and find adequate work to support themselves and their families. It is simply the values of our faith and of our common humanity to reach out and create welcoming conditions for desperate families who contribute to the well-being of this country with their hard work and whose gifts of cultural diversity bring to this country a blessing for all of us.

Ron DeSantis is making a mockery of the suffering of these immigrants. He must be stopped. We will continue to work for Justice, Peace and Human Kindness. Jesus was a liberator leading with Radical Love. Let's learn from him.”

Reverend Sarah Robinson, Vice President of Hope Community Center Board and Pastor of Audubon Park Church, Orlando, FL stated,

"While the governor continues his play for the national stage with a shock and awe strategy, his policies have and will harm real people, and harm Florida. They are profoundly un-Christian and anti-Biblical. I call on all Christians of this state and country to stand in support of immigrants, regardless of status, as fellow human beings and beloved Children of God. That is what Jesus would do. In this season of Lent, a time for repentance and self-reflection, I ask Gov. DeSantis to take stock and ask the question 'What would Jesus do?'"

The Reverend Dr. José Rodríguez, OSL, Vicar of Iglesia Episcopal Jesús de Nazaret, Azalea Park, FL said,

“The State of Florida is seeking to criminalize Christianity and the free exercise of religion. Many of the actions the State seeks to criminalize are basic outreach functions of most Christian churches and other faith communities. This is not only an attack on basic human decency and dignity but this is an attack on our religious liberties in the State of Florida. As a follower of Jesus I find it egregious that many Christian and faith based hospitals and shelters will have to violate the Biblical command to treat the foreigner among us as a citizen. No human is illegal but these acts make acting out one’s Christian faith illegal. We should be concerned about the State’s move to create a new category of person - the illegal Christian.”

David and Ada Rivera, Senior Pastors of Iglesia de Dios Pentecostal M.I. Tampa, FL said,

“The governor knows that the fastest growing church is the immigrant church. When he declares radical anti-immigrant mandates, he is declaring war against the church. We demand that the governor reconsiders these measures. In the meantime, our church community will continue to keep him and his family in our prayers.”

FLORIDA – Today, Governor Ron DeSantis announced an extensive legislative proposal to prevent immigrants’ access to health care, education, and criminalize any Floridian who transports or provides shelter to a broad category of immigrants. By creating harsh penalties for individuals and groups that support migrants and asylum seekers, easing the detention of people seeking safety including families, the elderly and children, requiring universal use of E-Verify, and prohibiting the issuance by local governments of ID cards that help to identify Floridian communities, DeSantis is leading the way in turning back the clock on human rights and descending us into a truly draconian state where residents live in fear of a government who overreaches into every corner of their lives. To see his full proposal, click here. To watch the full press conference, click here.

Tessa Petit, Executive Director of The Florida Immigrant Coalition says,

“Gov. DeSantis announced a cruel, anti-immigrant, and racist list of upcoming mandates. Gov. DeSantis and his legislature are once again using hate and heavy-handed use of government power to attack our vulnerable families, friends, and neighbors.  This is not just an immigrant issue.  This is a morality issue.  But most of all, this is a FREEDOM issue.  Some of Florida’s elected officials are not only going back on the State’s proud tradition of being a beacon of hope for families fleeing from life-threatening dangers. They are supporting a hate-filled agenda that will lead to fear, division, violence, discrimination, and a weakened Florida.  This is not who Floridians are.  This is not the Florida we want to live in. ”

Executive Director of Hope CommUnity Center, Felipe Sousa-Lazaballet comments,

“At Hope we serve a beautiful community and we have a lively group of youngsters who are eager to learn. With this dehumanizing anti-immigrant package, the Florida government will be ripping away the dreams of higher education for thousands of children in our state including a lot of the kids we serve. A less educated population doesn’t help anyone in our state.”

Oscar Londoño, Co-Executive Director of WeCount! commented,

“Today’s announcement by Ron DeSantis is a blatant attack on immigrant workers and their families designed to advance his fascist, anti-democratic agenda. Instead of addressing the real issues facing all working families in Florida, like low wages, housing unaffordability, and the rising costs of living, Ron DeSantis continues to stoke hate, undermine local governments, and criminalize our basic freedoms. His cruel and inhumane policies, if enacted by our State Legislature, would hurt our economy and our communities, and make Florida unsafe and unwelcoming for all of us.” 

Samuel Vilchez Santiago, Florida State Director for the American Business Immigration Coalition Action stated,

“I’m surprised the governor hasn’t proposed criminalizing undocumented people and those who employ them for eating, sleeping, and breathing—that’s how preposterously and cruelly restrictive this legislative package is. DeSantis’ draconian anti-human package does not only harm our state’s diverse communities but also our economy. Even Florida’s Republican-led legislature has yet to see clearly how this is going to harm everyday Floridians who are already struggling to make ends meet. It will lead to higher food costs, retired folks not being able to access the healthcare they need, and our housing prices continuing to skyrocket. It is as radical as it gets.”

Aurelie Colon Larrauri, Florida State Policy Advocate for the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice says,

“Immigrants, especially people who are still navigating our complex immigration system, already face many barriers accessing healthcare. This proposal would exacerbate this, particularly by requiring hospitals to collect data on immigration status. Anti-immigrant rhetoric from those in power has a chilling effect on diverse communities by spreading a climate of fear, where the threat of detention, family separation and deportation discourages folks from seeking preventative or even life-saving care. Access to care should not depend on your migration status. Everyone should have access to quality, compassionate, and affordable healthcare. Immigrant justice is reproductive justice.”

Santra Denis, Executive Director, Miami Workers Center said,

“Every day, we at the Miami Workers Center, see the contributions immigrants and their children make in our state. Workers who are immigrants in particular have been the engine of many of the sectors in this state: caring for our children, our elderly, and our sick, keeping food on our tables, teaching our students, and ultimately keeping our state economically and culturally vibrant. Governor Desantis’ proposed legislation is an attack on our coworkers and neighbors and will create harmful conditions for our communities.”

Sadaf Knight, CEO of Florida Policy Institute (FPI) stated:“More than 1 in 5 Floridians were born outside the United States. Immigrants have inherent worth, and their economic contributions are undeniable. Those without a documented status pay $600 million annually in state and local taxes. There are over 281,000 immigrants who pay tuition and fees at colleges in this state, and 36 percent of Florida’s small businesses are immigrant-owned. 

Gov. DeSantis' new anti-immigrant proposal would harm our communities and our state. Florida should be welcoming immigrants’ unique contributions, not vilifying people who call our state home.”

Jonathan Alingu, Executive Director of Central Florida Jobs With Justice commented,

“We want a Florida that’s welcoming, where we can work together to support new residents in our communities which is only a boost to our state. This is a place where we want to live comfortably and safely together no matter what we look like or what we have. Governor DeSantis, by introducing this villainous proposal, is removing our ability to create solutions that are meaningful and compassionate to working people across our state and push people out of their communities for awful political points. These actions show us that our voices as Floridians don’t matter when DeSantis’s political ambitions and those that benefit from his cruelty are aligned.”

Adelys Ferro, Executive Director of the Venezuelan American Caucus, said:

“Immigrants are the bone marrow of Florida, we build and make this state better, greater, and richer, every day. I am shocked, but not surprised, Governor DeSantis is determined to go as far as possible, with no limitations when it comes to humiliating and dehumanizing people who migrate in search of safety and opportunities. We, Venezuelans, know what a fascist looks like, we know what an authoritarian looks like, we know what hate looks like, and now Governor DeSantis is bringing all of those traits to our lives here in Florida. We will not be silent, we will not be quiet, we will fight back, and we won’t forget what he is doing to our communities”.

Ana Sofía Peláez, Executive Director of the Miami Freedom Project said,

“Not only is Governor DeSantis proposed legislation targeting immigrants an affront to the diasporic communities that made Miami the global city it is today, it threatens the fabric of private and public, secular and faith-based organizations that have been serving our communities for decades. As a Cuban-American, whose own family sought freedom and found refuge in South Florida, the proposed policies mirror the very authoritarian government we fled and have no place in a democratic system.”

Michi Ceard, of the Forida Student Power Network mentioned,

 “As Desantis released his anti-human, anti-immigrant proposal this morning, we are reminded of the 10-year fight to finally pass in-state tuition in 2014. The fight was not easy, yet young people mobilized to Tallahassee, shared their stories with legislators, and organized their communities with love. As we face the repeal of in-state tuition we will harness our power as immigrant youth to fight and not give up in the face of this challenge. As young people, we will educate, organize, and mobilize our peers to fight in Tallahassee as we witness the implementation of a white supremacist, fascist agenda at the state legislature.”

Andrea Mercado, Executive Director of Florida Rising said,

"DeSantis' proposed legislation is a direct attack on the diverse and thriving communities of immigrants in Florida. Whether people come here for employment and economic opportunity, to seek safety and asylum, or to reunite with family, we should be creating a state where all are welcome, safe, and healthy. DeSantis and his right-wing administration have instead chosen to stigmatize these communities and take away their rights. We oppose any legislation that strikes down safety and opportunity for Florida residents, no matter their"

FLORIDA – Yesterday, the Biden-Harris Administration unveiled new border enforcement enhancements that teeter dangerously close to an all-out unconstitutional asylum ban. What is being described as a “carrot and stick” approach, these new protocols will allow access for a number of migrants from Nicaragua,, Haiti, and Cuba while making it almost impossible for all others. This expansion of the parole process for Cubans, Nicaraguans, and Haitians is modeled after one the Biden Administration released in 2021 for Venezuelans. While we are glad that individuals will have access to a process, we are worried about the ramifications to our asylum system and the well-being of immigrants at the Southern border. The administration is also enacting a “transit ban,” which would bar people from seeking asylum if they passed through a third country.  The Biden Administration also announced new humanitarian parole programs for Nicaraguans, Cubans, and Haitians in exchange for forfeiting their legal right to apply for asylum. A one size fits all approach to improving our immigration system that is fair and legal is not what we expected from this administration.  Efforts will continue to push the administration to eliminate Title 42, provide Immigration Reform, fix our broken immigration system, and redesignate Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Nicaragua.

Executive Director of the Florida Immigrant Coalition, Tessa Petit states, 

“We are glad that a number of asylum seekers from Venezuela, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Cuba will be able to find the promise of safety and refuge in the United States, but this is not nearly enough and is not easily applicable in failed states. While offering relief to some migrants and asylum seekers, these humanitarian parole programs will assist a limited number of people with the means to apply and only offers temporary protection for those seeking long-term security. We also must ask how implementing a system that requires migrants to have a smartphone with internet access and have a certain level of digital navigation skills to set their immigration appointments impact those desperately seeking safety, especially those who don’t speak English, or Spanish, or don’t manage a written language. Furthermore, it is unthinkable that President Joseph R. Biden, who our communities supported in his bid to the White House, is continuing to uphold and expand Donald Trump and Stephen Miller’s racist Frankenstein known as Title 42. And all of this, without mentioning the implementation of a so-called “transit ban” which will deny people their due process, and discriminates against immigrants without financial means. These new policies will undoubtedly have a disparate impact on Black, Brown, and Indigenous people seeking safety. Fighting for the soul of the nation takes more than words, it must be reflected in the actions that this administration takes, especially the actions that affect the most vulnerable. While Congress must work with the Biden administration to pass legislation that would provide a path to citizenship to millions of immigrants in the U.S., we also need President Biden and VP Harris to lead by example and champion the right to seek asylum, and most of all, legal and humane immigration processes.”

Yareliz Mendez-Zamora, Federal Campaign Lead for the Florida Immigrant Coalition comments,

“Sadly, the Biden-Harris Administration is proudly relying on and expanding former president Trump’s anti-immigrant policy advisor Stephen Miller’s racist and xenophobic policy. Trump and Miller used Title 42 to justify dismantling the asylum system. In this new expansion, we see COVID concerns continue to be an excuse, all the while the U.S. has been operating as if COVID has been long over, including opening its ports of entry to tourists and other travelers, even those without proof of Covid-19 vaccination. This shows us that Title 42 was never about public health, but rather a racist cruel double standard. Adding more hurdles, as we are seeing now, isn't the answer or an appropriate balance. The Biden administration should be taking steps to restore asylum law at ports of entry, not hinder vulnerable migrants from reaching the promise of this country, a country that has depended and thrived on immigration for generations. When it comes to Nicaragua, we are saddened that this administration has yet to redesignate TPS, but has no qualms about creating harsher enforcement laws that will harm Nicaraguans seeking protections. TPS would protect over 35,000 Nicaraguans who are currently in the U.S. but this administration continues to choose bad politics and bad policies.”