Fight for "Compassionate" Immigration Reform in Florida
Posted May 17, 2013 06:15 pm
ORLANDO, FL - Immigration advocates are turning up the heat on Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., asking him to stand strong in his support of what they call "compassionate" immigration reform.
Link:
•
Fight For Florida
The Florida AFL-CIO and other groups this week are running a media campaign to ask Rubio to continue his initial support for an immigration policy that includes a road map to citizenship for undocumented workers.
Rubio and seven other lawmakers joined to propose comprehensive immigration reform and became known as the "Gang of Eight." However, Jose LaLuz, immigration campaign field coordinator for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, said he fears Rubio is losing his resolve.
"I am certainly concerned that he could agree to
amendments that could actually debilitate the piece of
legislation that he and the Gang of Eight have
introduced," LaLuz said.
Rubio recently has been quoted as saying the current
legislation is "the beginning of reform." This week a
radio ad campaign was released asking him to continue
his fight for a comprehensive plan.
LaLuz, a U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico, said his heart
breaks when he hears the stories of families separated
because of the red tape involved in the immigration
process.
"Every time I hear the testimonial of an undocumented
family who has lost one of their own, I explode in
tears," he said. "I get more energy to continue to
achieve our goal."
The Florida AFL-CIO also is pushing for equal pay for
immigrant workers, to prevent them from being placed in
competition with American workers, and for adult
children and siblings of people who already have
immigrated to the United States to be given a chance for
citizenship.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is considering the
legislation and discussing measures involving a guest
worker program and visas for highly skilled workers.