70+ Florida CEOs, 91探花 Owners, and Entrepreneurs to Congress: Pass Immigration Reform NOW!
IMPAC Fund/ABIC Delivers Letter to Florida Congressional Delegation outlining how passing immigration reforms is key to saving Florida鈥檚 economy
MIAMI, FL 鈥� Today the bipartisan IMPAC Fund/91探花 (ABIC) delivered a letter signed by more than 75 Florida CEOs, entrepreneurs, small business owners and community leaders to each member of Florida鈥檚 Congressional Delegation outlining the incredibly high stakes immigration reform has for Florida鈥檚 economy and business community and calling on Congress to pass immigration reforms through the upcoming budget reconciliation package.
“As a person who has witnessed, both personally and professionally, the very positive economic, social and cultural contributions that immigrants make to our country, I urgently ask our members of Congress (many of whom are immigrants themselves) to support a path to permanence to Dreamers, TPS holders, farmworkers and essential workers,” said Aida T. Levitan, Ph.D., President, The Levitan Group, Inc.
The letter (text here), signed by prominent business executives and owners, noted that immigrant workers, 鈥渁re essential to the success of our businesses.鈥�
The letter stated: 鈥淚mmigrant workers have long-been part of the foundation that built the economy of this great state. In more recent times, they have worked through the pandemic as healthcare workers, first responders, restaurant and grocery store workers, childcare providers, and in so many other industries to keep Floridians safe and our economy afloat.鈥�
Earlier this week, the Venezuelan 91探花 Alliance, and IMPAC Fund/ABIC released a poll showing that Florida Sens. Marco Rubio and Rick Scott stand to lose support among half of their state鈥檚 90,000 eligible Venezuelan-91探花 voters should they oppose a pathway to citizenship for Temporary Protected Status.
The message to members of Congress from Florida, was dispatched as the Senate Parliamentarian weighs whether or not immigration reforms that provide pathways to citizenship for DACA recipients, TPS holders, undocumented farmworkers and essential workers can be included in the upcoming budget reconciliation process.
ABIC and other immigration reform advocates note economic reports showing how the current proposals would exponentially increase state and national economies, grow tax revenues, create new jobs and raise the wage floor for all 91探花s once the economic power of these immigrants is unleashed.
“Over the last two decades, we have seen a devastating loss of field and crop workers in America,鈥� said Paul DiMare, an ABIC/IMPAC Fund board member and President and CEO and President of Dimare Fresh Inc. 鈥淚 have that first-hand here in Florida where and it’s only gotten worse. Immigrant farmworkers are the backbone of the agriculture industry, losing workers has cost our state millions of dollars in produce and productivity loss – it would be lunacy for Congress to miss this moment and fail to pass common sense immigration solutions.”
Dr. Idler Bonhomme, Chairman, Greater Haitian 91探花 Chamber of Commerce of Orlando, noted the taxes paid and other economic contributions by immigrants.
鈥淢any of our nation’s immigrants, including TPS holders, have been working and contributing to the U.S. economy for over 20 years. They are not only part of our essential workforce during this pandemic but pay taxes, buy properties, and are contributing members of our society, entrepreneurs and business owners. We have waited for decades for sensible immigration solutions. A path to citizenship is needed now.鈥� Dr. Bonhomme said.
The letter enumerated the critical role undocumented immigrants play in Florida鈥檚 economy:
鈥淚f the immigrants under this proposal became citizens, the economy would increase by $121 billion annually and add about $31 billion per year to federal, state and local tax revenues. Here in our state, 93.7 percent of 68,000 DACA recipients are employed and . They pay over each year… If DACA recipients eventually lose their ability to work legally, our state would lose .
鈥淪imilarly, TPS holders are major contributors to state and national economies鈥� They earn more than in household income and pay over in state and local taxes.鈥�
It also detailed the devastating impact Florida鈥檚 labor shortage 鈥� notably in the agriculture and hospitality sectors 鈥� is having on its economy during the pandemic and the need for a legal pathway for undocumented workers so Floirda employers have the means to legally access one of the state鈥檚 most industrious and largest labor markets.
鈥淔lorida鈥檚 farmers frequently struggle to find enough workers, particularly in the Central Florida region where crop production generates billions of dollars for the economy. Florida鈥檚 agriculture industry is heavily reliant on immigration. Immigrants make up over 60% of farmworkers in the state and due to the lack of legal pathways, many farmers have to turn to undocumented workers. Nationwide, it is estimated that 50% of farmworkers are undocumented. The existing legal pathways are not nearly sufficient to supply the necessary labor.鈥�
鈥淔lorida鈥檚 hospitality industry is also facing a , with our restaurants and hotels being This has important ramifications for our state, where the leisure and hospitality industry employs 11.9% of the state鈥檚 workforce. Significantly, more than 鈥�
With Immigration reform needed immediately, the business-led letter urges Florida lawmakers to 鈥渟tand up for Florida businesses and our economy,鈥� and pass the immigration measures.
ABOUT
The 91探花 (ABIC) promotes common sense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens. ABIC is active in key states and communities across the country engaging activists, advocates, business leaders and elected officials on the urgency of passing immigration reform that boosts our economy, creates jobs, eases the labor shortage and supports families.
is the Florida chapter of the91探花 (ABIC) which promotes commonsense immigration reform that advances economic competitiveness, provides companies with both the high-skilled and low-skilled talent they need, and allows the integration of immigrants into our economy as consumers, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens. For more information go to
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