The importance of immigration rules in Build Back Better
Our nation is still recovering from the effects of the COVID- 19 epidemic that has taken so much from us. Here in the Sunshine State, we know full well the consequences of this deadly virus that has taken the lives of over 62,000 Floridians and has thrown the lives of so many others into turmoil due to the negligence and often recklessly irrational actions of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
After the election of Joe Biden, Democrats got to work and launched legislative measures to provide relief to millions of American families — getting millions back to work and helping ensure our small businesses got back on their feet. Crucial to those efforts were countless immigrant essential workers who put themselves at risk during the darkest days of the virus. They were the nurses, doctors, farmworkers, teachers, janitors, meatpackers, sanitation workers and other vocations that kept our country going and still do so day after day.
Despite the contributions that these essential workers have made, they are still dealing with a broken immigration system that leaves them without a practical path to citizenship and the constant threat of possible detention or deportation. Over 50,000 children in Florida do not know if their parents will come home or be detained and deported.
Both documented and undocumented immigrants contribute to this state — Florida is home to over 400,000 immigrant essential workers, 170,000 Dreamers, 150,000 Temporary Protected Status holders and more. Together, immigrants in this state have $ 105.4 billion of spending power, have contributed $ 33.2 billion in tax revenue, and 394,176 are entrepreneurs. These are the tax dollars that help rebuild our highways, our education system, medical services and more. Immigrants create jobs through the businesses they form and offer new world insights. Immigrants enrich the lives of every single Floridian.
The Biden administration knows that all hard- working families deserve common- sense relief, including immigrant families. That’s why its historic Build Back Better package lowers prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate prices, makes the single largest investment in affordable housing ever, and establishes paid family and medical leave for up to four weeks. It also has provisions that will provide up to 6.9 million undocumented Americans work permits for up to 10 years, so they can continue working and paying taxes while fueling our much- needed economic recovery.
In a time when our country is torn apart by politics and an ongoing pandemic, there are two things that both unite and define us: our belief in democracy and our willingness to carry out the will of the people. Three- quarters of voters support immigration provisions currently in the Build Back Better Act regarding work permits, and 71% of voters support citizenship. Voters want immigrants to have meaningful relief. The numbers do not lie, data has consistently shown that voters understand the value that immigrants bring to this country. Democrats can do the right and popular thing by giving much- needed relief to hard- working immigrant families and all Americans, which is crucial to building a stronger economy, ensuring our small businesses thrive, and helping every hard- working family in Florida get ahead.
As the granddaughter of Italian immigrants and daughter of a Colombian immigrant mother, I know first hand that our nation and state are a melting pot of rich culture and traditions and that we have immigrants to thank for the vibrancy and economic power of Florida. The plain truth is that in order to have a true and full recovery, we must commit to a plan that helps lift all who contribute to our economy.