NCLR Florida Affiliate Network Makes Case for Immigration Reform

By John Herrick, Policy Fellow, Immigration Policy Project, NCLR

Florida Affiliate letter
NCLR staff Maria Guerreros and Natalie Carlier with the letter from Florida Affiliates.

Presidents, CEOs, and executive directors of eight organizations within the NCLR Florida Affiliate Network—collectively employing 264 people and serving 124,950 Floridians in regions throughout the state—urged 29 members of Congress to deliver a commonsense solution to our broken immigration system in a letter delivered yesterday morning.

“We are calling on the Florida Congressional delegation to contribute to a constructive debate and deliver the smart immigration solutions needed to move the country forward,” reads the letter. “The sense of urgency and expectations for real change in our communities are stronger than ever.”

This letter was sent to Florida’s congressional delegation, including Sen. Marco Rubio (R–Fla.) and Representatives Mario Diaz-Balart (R–Fla., 25th District), Gus Bilirakis (R–Fla., 12th District), Joe Garcia (D–Fla., 26th District), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R–Fla., 27th District), and John Mica (R–Fla., 7th District), among other members.

In it, Latino leaders urge their members of Congress to pass immigration reform, including a road map to citizenship and note how reform with citizenship would greatly benefit Florida’s economy and state revenues. For instance, the undocumented workforce of Florida generated $31.22 billion in tax revenues in 2010—tax revenue that would increase by $1.13 billion if the undocumented workforce in Florida was able to get into a newly created line for them to earn the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.

Read the letter sent to Republican Sen.Marco Rubio of Florida below.

Leaders of NCLR Florida Affiliates Hispanic Unity; Coalition of Florida Farmworker Organizations; Hispanic Services Council; Centro Campesino Farmworker Center, Inc.; Hispanic Health Initiatives, Inc.; Latino Leadership; Amigos for Kids; and Mexican American Council signed Thursday’s letter to Florida’s congressional delegation.

We applaud the commitment of our Affiliate Network in Florida to working for action on immigration reform with a road map to citizenship.

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