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Statement from the CHC Chair and Vice Chair of Policy on Florida Republicans’ Anti-Immigrant Agenda

April 11, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán and Vice Chair of Policy Darren Soto issued the following statement amidst a slew of anti-immigrant bills backed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Among other things, these bills propose criminalizing the transportation of anyone who is undocumented within the state, invalidating out-of-state driver's licenses issued to undocumented immigrants, requiring hospitals to collect patient immigration status data information prior to providing care, and eliminating in-state college tuition for undocumented students and DACA recipients:

"The recent policies implemented by the Republican-led Florida Legislature demonstrate Governor DeSantis' preference for fearmongering, promoting racial profiling, and damaging Florida's economy, rather than supporting the state's Hispanic population in their time of need. It is also disappointing to see Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nuñez turn her back on immigrants and support the elimination of in-state college tuition for undocumented students and DACA recipients despite once sponsoring the bill when she was in the Florida House. Faith leaders, civil rights groups, chambers of commerce, and others have come out against these draconian measures because they will slow economic growth, reduce our workforce, hurt small businesses, drive up inflation, and deeply damage our international tourism. To safeguard immigrants in the U.S. against such harmful measures, Congress must pass comprehensive immigration reform that modernizes border security and provides a pathway to citizenship."

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The Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), founded in December 1976, is organized as a Congressional Member organization, governed under the Rules of the U.S. House of Representatives. The CHC is dedicated to voicing and advancing, through the legislative process, issues affecting Hispanics in the United States, Puerto Rico and U.S. Territories.