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America has consistently moved toward greater inclusivity and equality for people of all backgrounds and ethnicities, but unfortunately, Florida seems to be moving in the opposite direction regarding our immigrant neighbors. We need to reverse this trend through inclusive immigration reform that acknowledges the positive impact of immigrants on our state.

At the start of this legislative session, Gov. Ron DeSantis made immigration a top priority as he focused on expanding his controversial migrant relocation program. Masked by a promise of increased opportunity for these foreign-born residents, Florida lawmakers supported this expansion.

DeSantis signed the expanded version of the program, titled the Unauthorized Alien Transport Program, into law during a special session. His plan also altered the scope of the bill to include the entire United States, not just Florida.

Unfortunately, this dehumanizing and disruptive policy snowballed into something difficult to control. DeSantis championed new initiatives to eradicate immigrants from Florida by stripping them of any opportunity to work or learn in our state, and some of these initiatives have passed with Senate Bill 1718.

This issue is close to my heart as a Christian leader because of what the Bible clearly teaches. In Romans 12:13, the Apostle Paul writes: When Gods people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Christians cannot read this passage and approve of how our state intends to treat immigrants. I call on Florida Christians to stand against these policies for our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who cannot fight for themselves.

Our lawmakers should not let political antics get in the way of doing right by individuals who come to our great state for refuge and to create better lives for themselves and their families.

Floridians have cultivated and experienced a mutually beneficial relationship with immigrants for decades. Theover 4.5 millionimmigrant residents in the Sunshine State found our state a haven and land of opportunity while providing Florida with immense economic growth through their tax contributions and general consumerism. It has always been in our best interest and the right thing to do to allow immigrants to stay and make Florida a better place.

Instead, the governors office has pursued new initiatives that will harm Florida immigrants and every Florida resident. The proposed migrant flights use our tax dollars in an unnecessary scheme to remove individuals that have come to our state to invest in our communities. This program will misuse millions of dollars to knock on immigrants doors and fund their trips across the country instead of investing in necessary improvements to our state.

DeSantis embarked on a mission to make immigrants the enemy in our state by ignoring the positive impact they have on our economy and culture. As a reminder to the governor, Floridas economy is unsustainable without the contributions of our undocumented immigrants. Undocumented immigrants in Florida pay over $1.6 billion in taxes and hold $14.4 billion in spending power, according to the American Immigration Council. If we force almost a million undocumented immigrants to leave our state, it will inflict irreversible damage to our communities and economy.

I was glad to see some anti-immigrant legislation reined in during the 2023 state legislative session, but we need to start welcoming immigrants, not restricting them. I hope our state legislators take a more positive approach to immigration reform in the future. When Florida immigrants succeed, we all succeed.

The Rev. Yves Geffrard is pastor of Notre Dame Catholic Church in Fort Pierce.

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On immigration reform, we must practice what we preach | Opinion - South Florida Sun Sentinel

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) An immigration reform package is headed to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis desk.

Republican lawmakers gave SB 1718 final approval Tuesday. The bill would crack down on illegal immigration in the Sunshine State.

This was another one of those bills that had lawmakers fiercely divided. Republicans say it protects Floridians while Democrats call it inhumane.

The bill enforces new punishments for knowingly transporting or hiring undocumented migrants in Florida. Also, new E-verify requirements for businesses with 25 or more employees.

Republican lawmakers say the states action is a result of federal inaction on illegal immigration.

We cant just sit idly by, theres things that the state can do to mitigate the issues, State Rep. Berny Jacques said.

State Rep. Kiyan Michael lost her son in a car accident that involved an undocumented driver. Michael is co-sponsoring the policy and called its passage a double edged sword.

Finally victims of illegal immigration crimes will have a much louder voice thanks to the state of Florida. At the same time my heart is broken because I know that like my son those children wont come back.

The legislation also sets aside $12 million for the states migrant relocation program, which last year flew about 50 migrants from Texas to Marthas Vineyard.

Migrants like Thomas Kennedy call the bill cruel.

Its painful to see our tax dollars being spent in this sort of crap that is just divisive, hateful and accomplishes nothing not just for immigrants but for all Floridians, Kennedy said.

Meanwhile Democrats felt the policy was less about immigration and more about the governors potential 2024 plans.

It is a federal issue, so why do states like Florida and Texas insist on trying to stick their noses into it? I think the reason they do that is because theyre hoping to score votes with conservative voters, State Rep. Fentrice Driskell said.

The bill now heads to the governor who is expected to sign it despite it missing some of his initial proposal requests.

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Immigration reform bill headed to DeSantis desk - WFLA

The Texas border city of El Paso has recently seen the arrival of hundreds of migrants who entered the United States; some did so legally, some did not.

On the other side of the border in Juarez, Mexico, an estimated 15,000 people are gathering, waiting for May 11.

That's when Customs and Border Protection officials can no longer expel undocumented migrants and deny asylum under the2020 "Title 42"public health emergency because it is expiring.

The Department of Defense is doing its part to help, with 1,500 active-duty troops from the Army and Marine Corps being sent there.

"Cleary, DHS felt there was need for the Department of Defense to assist, so they can do their important work. Secretary Austin approved that request and so that's what we're focused on," said Brigadier General Pat Ryder.

He continued: "For 90 days, those 1,500 military personnel who will be sourced from the active duty component will fill critical capability gaps such as ground based detection and monitoring, data entry and warehouse support. "Military personnel will not participate directly in law enforcement activities."

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Virginia) says the crisis gets to the larger issue of the need for comprehensive immigration reform, including enhancing border security, and creating a path to citizenship.

"This is a challenging problem in a Congress that thus far has proven unwilling to act," he said.

Authorities encountered more than 2.76 million migrants

https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/stats/cbp-enforcement-statistics

crossing the border illegally last fiscal year, the largest number ever recorded.

The Pentagon has not said specifically what bases that the newly tasked troops are coming from.

They will join 2,500 National Guard troops already activated to assist law enforcement at the border.

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Troops heading to border, Kaine seeks comprehensive immigration reform bill - 13newsnow.com WVEC

More than 430 business organizations have established a coalition seeking action on immigration reform. The Legal Immigration and Border Enforcement Reform This Year (LEGAL) Campaign has been launched with a letter of intent to members of Congress. The LIBERTY Campaign consists of groups representing a variety of different industries including construction, agriculture, retail, engineering, and others.

When it comes to individual priorities, our organizations may differ, but the one thing we agree on is that another year of inaction on border security and legal immigration reform is not an acceptable option. The failure to enact reforms will deepen these current crises, the letter states. For too long, congressional efforts to confront Americas immigration challenges have stalled. Attempts to address these problems comprehensively have all met with failure.

Member groups of the LIBERTY Campaign include the Western Growers Association, American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives. The coalition highlights several areas where bipartisan efforts can help to ease the current challenges. Some of the suggestions include reforming asylum laws and instituting effective and efficient employment verification. Additionally, the LIBERTY Campaign supports substantially increasing quotas for employment-based immigrant and nonimmigrant visas.

In a press release the coalition highlights a survey that found that approximately two-thirds of American voters support bolstering border security and making it easier to immigrate. The group notes that expanding the scope of essential worker programs could be one component of working towards bipartisan compromise to immigration reform. Other points highlighted by the LIBERTY Campaign include increasing resources along the southern border and expanding the scope of essential worker programs.

Ultimately, elected officials will have to negotiate what can secure the necessary votes in both Houses of Congress and the Presidents signature, the coalition notes. We are committed to working with lawmakers who share our view that finding reasonable compromises is the only path forward to securing our border, averting further humanitarian crises, and meeting the economic needs of the United States.

Related

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Broad Coalition Forms LIBERTY Campaign, Calling for Immigration ... - AgNet West

Washington, May 2 (PTI) The opposition Republican party has used comprehensive immigration reform as a political stunt and a political tool and they are not interested in resolving the issue, the White House has said.

As weve seen, Republicans have continued to use this as a political stunt, a political tool, and not actually come to the table to have a conversation on how to protect Dreamers and farm workers. You know, more immigration judges and asylum officers are needed. More funding for border security is needed, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at her daily news conference on Monday.

This is something that we have put forward in that legislation and so much more. They dont want to do that. They want to do political stunts, as weve seen from governors and mayors across the country, she alleged responding to a question on comprehensive immigration reform in particular on legal immigration.

President Joe Biden on the very first day of his administration, put forth comprehensive immigration legislation, she said.

Thats to show how seriously he took this, how he understood that the system had been broken. It needs to be modernised, be moved to the 21st century, she said.

This is something that the president has talked about. He has asked Congress to take action, Republicans in Congress to take action, and to work on this in a bipartisan way. Hes going to continue to do that.

In the meantime, hes put forth some he has tools that hes used to making sure that we do this, we actually deal with the immigration system in a humane way, and in a way that actually deals with what were seeing at the border, Jean-Pierre said.

Thats why youve seen the parolee programme be so successful. When it comes to illegal migration, youve seen it come down by more than 90 per cent. Thats because of the actions that this president has taken. But we know that more action needs to be taken, so it has to be legislative action, she said.

Were going to continue to call Congress to do that. And so, this is important to this president. On day one, on day one, he put forth legislation to move forward on this, Jean-Pierre said. PTI LKJ RHL

This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.

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Republicans have used immigration reform as political tool: White House - ThePrint